Russian FM calls for peace efforts in Mideast

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Israel's Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu (2nd R) walks with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (2nd L) during their meeting in Jerusalem February 16, 2009. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Later in the day,Lavrov also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. During a joint news conference afterwards, Abbas warned that continued Israeli settlement expansion would cripple peace talks.

Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President, said, We are against the principle of settlement activity, and if this settlement activity doesn't stop, any meetings will be worthless and with no value."

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, said, "We will keep exerting huge efforts to resume the peace process. This means that both sides must adhere to the clauses in the road map, which requires a halt to violence and settlement activities."

Lavrov said Russia is planning a Mideast peace conference for the first half of 2009. He says the conference will be a continuation of US-backed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks restarted in 2007, and an Arab peace initiative.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei