Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am glad to be able to use this excellent opportunity to address all Arab states by using the participants in this summit in Khartoum as intermediaries.
In Russia we are happy with the increasing contribution the Arab world and your competent organization are making to resolving the global problems that face humanity today. We are impressed by the Arab League's active participation in the collective search for ways to strengthen international stability, ensure steady development, and find political solutions with firm legal bases to conflicts.
I am well aware that the heads of state and peoples of the Arab world, and in other Muslim states, share Russia's and the international community's growing concern with regards to the danger resulting from new divisions among the international community. It is our deep conviction that the time has come to act and to act together under the auspices of the United Nations as a key player. As the events of the last few years in the Middle East have shown, unilateral actions do not resolve problems and even aggravate them. Russia, a multiconfessional country that has recently received observer status at the Organization of the Islamic Conference, has firm intentions to make a significant contribution to this teamwork.
As a permanent UN Security Council member, current holder of the G8 Presidency, and active participant in the Middle East Quartet, we are going to develop consensual approaches to find solutions to the conflicts in the Middle East and in northern Africa. The same applies to issues concerning social, economic and political modernization in the Arab world. Progress in this direction must be based on initiatives made by the countries of the region, the experience and traditions of the people living here, and in the spirit of a partnership between civilizations. Events should not be rushed in an artificial way, nor should outside pressure be applied.
Of course, the present situation in the Middle East and northern Africa gives us cause for concern. Events that took place here recently have had a negative affect on international affairs in general. Moreover, such affairs are starting to take on an intercivilizational aspect. Those who would like to sow seeds of discord and distrust between cultures, religions and ethnic groups for selfish ends are trying to take advantage of the situation. Of course, this is not good for joint efforts to fight against international terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and other such threats.
Renewing the Arab-Israeli settlement process and, first and foremost, using the Road Map as a basis for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a priority today. Along with this it is necessary to approach new realities in a constructive and pragmatic way, including the results of the recent democratic elections in Palestine. Having understood this and basing our actions on the Quartet's coordinated position, we have begun a dialogue with the Hamas movement.
It is important that all parties in the settlement adhere to the principles for political negotiations firmly and without retreating. These principles are contained in UN Security Council resolutions 242, 338, 1397 and 1515, and in the agreements that have already been achieved. Parties must also abstain from unilateral measures and violence We support the head of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, who is devoted to such an approach.
Russia takes a positive view of the Arab peace plan that was accepted at the Arab League summit in Beirut in 2002. In our opinion, this Arab initiative allows us to reach interdependent strategic goals, namely ending the occupation that began in 1967, creating an independent Palestinian state, and ensuring Israel's security. Were the Israeli side and the new Palestinian political forces to consent to this plan, then this would set the peace process in motion.
Today it is crucially important to preserve the unity and territorial integrity of Iraq, and to prevent it from falling into civil war. We can achieve this only through consent on a national level, including with respect to ending the foreign military presence. In connection with this, we highly appreciate the Arab League's initiative to engage in a wide dialogue with representatives from the leading political forces and various ethnic and religious communities in Iraq.
I am convinced that it is necessary to diminish the tension surrounding Lebanon and Syria based on the corresponding UN resolutions and without any third party intervening in Syrian or Lebanese internal affairs. We are in favour of Syria and Lebanon developing good neighbourly relations in which there is cooperation on an equal footing.
Russia will continue to help find solutions to other disputes in the region, in particular with respect to talks dedicated to finding a settlement to the problem in Darfur and implementing the comprehensive peace treaty between northern and southern Sudan.
We are ready to develop cooperation with the League of Arab States on multiple levels. I am confident that bilateral Russian-Arab cooperation will become stronger and expand in the interests of ensuring the peace, security and prosperity of our countries.
VLADIMIR PUTIN