Maria Zakharova: Russia advocates the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the borders of 1967

The journalist of our publication recalled that earlier the foreign ministers of the Russian Federation and Turkey spoke about the need to reform the WTO. They proposed to abandon unilateral trade restrictions and protectionism.

"In your opinion, how realistic is this in the current conditions and are other countries ready to support these initiatives?" - Maria Zakharova was asked.

The diplomat said that the non-constructive approach of the West provokes significant contradictions between WTO members. There is also an increase in the risks of fragmentation of the international trading system. As the Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly said, illegitimate sanctions have a detrimental effect on supply chains, international trade, and development services.

The WTO has all the components for survival in difficult conditions of geopolitical turbulence. The organization was conceived as a universal platform for developing uniform and understandable rules for conducting international trade and monitoring their compliance.

It is obvious to almost all states that the WTO needs reform in order to adapt it to the current economic realities. Improve response to new challenges and threats.

The Russian Federation pays special attention to the normal functioning of the appellate body and the functioning of the entire dispute resolution system to appeal against illegal restrictive trade measures.

All these issues will be considered at the WTO conference, which will be held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024. In contacts with the Russian Federation, representatives of the world community confirm their determination to make a constructive contribution to the holding of this event.

The topic of the conflict between Israel and Palestine was also touched upon.

"What mediation role can Russia play in the Arab-Israeli settlement? What does "settlement by a two-state formula" mean and what can be done to succeed this "formula" in alliance with other countries? "- asked the journalist of The Moscow Post.

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the Russian Federation has consistently advocated a long-term and comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with all international documents, which include the principle of two states.

The formula provides for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with the capital in Jerusalem, which will exist in peace and security with Israel.

This vision can only be realized through direct negotiations between Palestine and Israel. The status quo that has developed in recent years in the conflict zone, no matter how much the United States wants to "freeze" it, has shown its absolute non-viability, danger. Betting on a power solution has led to the current turbulence.

Today, the Russian Foreign Ministry is forced to state only the absence of a peace process, the West's disregard for the Palestinian problem and the results of the course that Washington has been introducing for many years.

The Russian Federation is ready to assist the parties to de-escalate the confrontation, establish a ceasefire. The Russian Foreign Ministry is in contact with leading regional players, whose role in stabilizing the situation and creating conditions for direct dialogue between the parties is indispensable.

Russia also proposed holding consultations at the level of ministers and the Secretary General of the LAS in Moscow to confirm the universal parameters for the settlement and normalization of the situation in the conflict zone, as well as the task of restoring Palestinian unity on the PLO platform, which implies an exclusively negotiated solution to the Palestinian problem.

These aspects were discussed during the meeting of Sergei Lavrov with the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, it was held on October 9.

Another issue raised the topic of OSCE attempts to "isolate Russia." Earlier, the representative of our country was not allowed to speak at the discussion on international humanitarian law. The journalist asked Maria Zakharova to comment on these events.

The diplomat pointed out that the "collective West" is destroying the OSCE from the inside.

"If they believe they will block anyone who is entitled to their own view, then they will use the organisation for their own purposes. For which ones? After all, the platform was created to conduct a dialogue between those who disagree with each other. If only "consonants" remain in it - why is she?, "- asked the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Such logic will turn the OSCE into a platform for exclusively Western countries, which will come up with new rules and trends for themselves, impose them on the world majority.

'It won't be! If there is no dialogue, then the platform self-destructs. And behind this are "destroyers and terminators" - the United States, Great Britain and others, "said Maria Zakharova.

In the final of a series of questions, the journalist of our publication asked to assess the prospects for creating a center with the participation of Turkish partners for the transit and distribution of Russian natural gas through Turkey.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry recalled that the initiative of the Russian side to create a gas distribution center in Turkey was dictated by the need to create a fundamentally new, independent mechanism for gas trade. Recent years have seen dramatic changes in the European gas market. Countries consumers reduced the share of long-term contracts in the structure of imports and demanded that suppliers increase the share of the spot component in pricing policy.

The pursued policy of diversifying supplies, including with an increase in the share of LNG supplies, led to an increase in the volatility of gas quotes in the EU, to which producers had to adapt.

The choice of Turkey as a "gas hub" is not accidental - its role as a transit country has recently grown significantly, especially with the commissioning of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline.

At the same time, cooperation between Moscow and Ankara in energy issues is strategic and not subject to political conjuncture. For additional aspects, including technical and financial aspects, contact Gazprom.

Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry