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Putin Urges Barak, Arafat to Restore Peace Talks
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday urged Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to end the current violence and resume direct dialogue.
"The new outbreak of violence in Palestinian territories has brought the situation in the Middle East to a dangerous point," Putin said in a statement released by his press service.
"Further escalation of the conflict would lead to new, even more numerous victims, would deal a heavy blow to the peace process and is fraught with extremely destructive international and regional consequences," Putin said. "I am sure that this contradicts the interests of both the Israelis and the Palestinians, who must live in peace."
"At this critical moment, I appeal to Chairman Yasser Arafat and Prime Minister Ehud Barak to take resolute measures to put an end to the violence, immediately do everything possible to normalize the situation and resume a direct dialogue to look for ways out of the crisis," the president said.
"Russia, as a co-sponsor of the Middle East settlement process, is prepared to do all possible to restore normal life and resume the negotiation process," he stressed.
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