RUSSIA: MOSCOW: PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT VISIT скачать в хорошем качестве

RUSSIA: MOSCOW: PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT VISIT

(19 Feb 1997) Eng/Russ/Nat Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat affirmed Russia's key role in the Middle East peace process. Speaking to reporters at the close of his two-day official visit to Russia, Arafat maintained that Russia was as important as the United States in the Middle East peace process. Russia's Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov asserting Russia's political clout, said that his country could still exert substantial influence in ways that didn't require money. On his second day in Moscow, Yasser Arafat, as part of his official duties, laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Palestinian Leader, dressed in his characteristic koofia (headdress) looked solemn throughout the ceremony. Later in the day, he held a joint press conference with the Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov. Arafat said he hoped that Russia, which has long been a supporter of the Palestinians, would work together with the Americans in the peace process. SOUNDBITE: (English) "And we hope that the two sides, the two co-sponsers with the others will continue their mission, it is a moral and political responsibility," SUPER CAPTION: Yasser Arafat, Palestinian Leader The Russian Foreign Minister added that his country still maintained political might even if its economy was in disarray. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Don't think please that everything depends on economic might, maybe, maybe we shall use other...ha ha...some measures.." SUPER CAPTION: Yevgeny Primakov, Russian Foreign Minister Following talks between the Palestinian leader and the Russian President Boris Yeltsin Tuesday, it was agreed that Russia's role in the peace negotiations should be augmented. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) "We came to an agreement that the role of Russia in the Middle East peace process will be even intensified as a co-sponsor." SUPER CAPTION: Yasser Arafat, Palestinian Leader Primakov called for an end to the financial blockade of Palestine, saying that until the blockade was lifted Palestinians were on an unequal footing in the peace process. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "I want to without a doubt support the cause of Mr. Arafat on the question of the economic blockade of Palestine, the blockade must be lifted in order to strengthen the peace process in the Middle East." SUPER CAPTION: Yevgeny Primakov, Russian Foreign Minister Arafat won a landslide victory in Palestine's first free election held in January of last year. The Palestinian Leader's visit to Russia confirms one of the co-sponser's commitment to establishing peace and good neighbourly relations in the Middle East region. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...