Russian senator discusses status of Jerusalem Holy Places with Israeli minister

Head of the Russian Federation Council's international committee Mikhail Margelov, who is on a visit in Israel, on Monday met Israeli Minister for Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs Nathan Sharansky. They discussed the proposal of the Russian parliament's upper chamber to hold an international conference "Holy Places of the Holy Land" in Geneva early next year. The idea has already been endorsed by the Vatican and the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Israeli minister also showed interest in the initiative, Margelov said. Sharansky said he supported the call to pay closer attention to the humanitarian side of the problem of the status of holy places, first of all in Jerusalem.

Now it is very important to create background for considering the interests of believers in all Middle East peace initiatives, the Russian senator emphasised in an interview with RIA Novosti. The Holy Land has relics of three religions and believers have the right to visit them without hindrance, he pointed out.