DATE=10/15/00
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / MIDEAST (L)
NUMBER=2-267963
BYLINE=LARRY JAMES
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russia says it is ready to take part in the Middle East summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Larry James reports from Moscow on the Kremlin's decision to assume an active role in the peace efforts.
TEXT: A Foreign Ministry statement says Russia is ready for a role in the talks at the same level as the other participants, adding that it wants the meeting to be a success. The wording suggests President Vladimir Putin will attend, although the statement did not specifically say so. It said that Russia is making every effort to stabilize the situation in the Middle East.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, President Clinton, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan, and King Abdullah II of Jordan will attend, along with a senior representative of the European Union.
Russia, a co-sponsor of the peace process, has not played much of a role recently, although President Putin tried to reassert Russian influence by sending Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov to the region for talks with both Mr. Arafat and Mr. Barak.
His efforts fell on deaf ears. No sooner had he concluded his mission than Israel launched a series of attacks on the Palestinians.
Mr. Ivanov said this weekend that Russia should be present at negotiations at the same level of the other participants, but that Moscow would not insist upon it. He said Moscow has an important role to play and that Russian participation will help insure a more successful outcome. (SIGNED)
NEB/LDJ/ALW/RAE
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
