On 3 November 2021 consultations were held at the Russian Foreign Ministry between Mikhail Bogdanov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Presidential Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, and Sven Koopmans, EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, which were also attended by Vladimir Safronkov, Special Representative of the Russian Foreign Minister for the Middle East Peace Process.
In a comprehensive exchange of views on developments in the sphere of Palestinian-Israeli settlement, the need was reaffirmed to consolidate efforts to improve the social and economic situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as well as to create conditions for direct negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis on the whole range of final status issues.
In this context, discussion was held on a set of possible practical steps to be taken by the Middle East Quartet of international mediators comprising Russia, US, UN and the EU, notably on convening a Quartet meeting at ministerial level aimed at implementing the two-state principle – Israel and Palestine coexisting in peace and security in accordance with UN resolutions.
The officials also stressed the need for any unilateral steps to be stopped, in particular settlement activity, and incitement to violence. Emphasis was put on the relevance of conducting an inclusive intra-Palestinian dialogue to achieve national unity on the basic of the PLO political platform.
