Moscow calls for working out a coordinated Mideast settlement plan

Moscow urges the international community to work out a coordinated plan of actions for a Mideast settlement. As Alexander Yakovenko, official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry declared at a briefing on Tuesday, "it is important now to work out a joint plan of concrete actions." This will be difficult to do, but there is no other way, the Russian Foreign Ministry believes.

In the opinion of the Russian side, the plan has to include three basic directions -- strengthening of security, resumption of the Palestinian-Israeli political dialogue and rendering assistance to Palestinians in restoring the socio-economic infra-structure in the context of the reforms that are being carried out.

According to Yakovenko, Moscow maintains contacts both with Israel and with the Palestinian leadership, including Yasser Arafat.