Putin: Russia is ready to develop cooperation with the Arab League

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: TASS

Russia said it was ready to develop cooperation with the Arab League to maintain regional stability. Together, they could contribute to strengthening a political settlement and restoring Syria and Iraq, President Putin said.

“Russia is ready to develop cooperation with the Arab League to ensure regional stability. I hope that after the defeat of the main forces of the Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq, we will be able to jointly contribute to strengthening the political settlement and post-conflict reconstruction processes in these countries, as well as to solving urgent humanitarian problems,” the head of state said in a message welcoming the participants of the Arab League meeting, posted on the Kremlin’s official website on April 15.

Putin also noted that it is necessary to continue the fight against terrorist groups, while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Arab states.

According to Mr. Putin, normalization of the situation in the Middle East is impossible without resolving the Palestinian issue.

“All issues related to the status quo of Palestine, including the issue of Jerusalem, must be resolved through direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations on the basis of universally recognized international law, including relevant resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly as well as the Arab Peace Initiative recognized by the Arab League,” the Russian President noted./.