Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Tuesday called on Russia to revive efforts to achieve peace and hold the international peace conference in Moscow as agreed upon many years ago. Abbas called on the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, during a press conference to support the Palestinian Authority to release Palestinian prisoners imprisoned in Israeli jails before 1994. He condemned settlement activities saying they form an obstacle to the peace process. Abbas and Putin discussed the Arab Spring since it concerns both Russia and Palestine and discussed ways of cooperation between the two countries. He insisted that the Palestinian presidential and legislative elections are the gateway to achieve reconciliation, according to a report of Palestine News and Information Agency "WAFA". Abbas commended Putin's efforts to support the Palestinian people and their cause. On the other hand, Putin said that Russia has no problem to recognize a Palestinian independent state, affirming that it will not change its position.
