Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, making his first trip to Russia since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip, planned to meet on Monday with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Abbas, who arrived Sunday in Moscow, was also slated to meet with President Vladimir Putin during his three-day trip. The ITAR-Tass news agency quoted Abbas as saying he intended to «discuss all the pressing problems .... Our friendship with Russia is rooted in history, and we will preserve and strengthen this relationship.» Russia is a member of the Quartet of Mideast negotiators, which also comprises the United States, the United Nations and the European Union.
