Afrasianet - Russia criticized the US initiative to hold the Bahrain Peace for Prosperity Workshop, accusing Washington of trying to impose alternative ways to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict away from the two-state solution.
"According to the information received, Washington intends to organize in Bahrain on June 25 and 26 a workshop entitled Peace for Prosperity, during which the economic aspect of what is known as the Century Deal of Settlement The Middle East issue.
The United States apparently plans to mobilize large sums of money, including through voluntary contributions, for large-scale investment projects purported to improve the living conditions of Palestinians living in Palestine itself, as well as in Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria. "
The statement added that the Palestinian leadership refused to participate in this project, pointing out that the PLO did not grant any party its exceptional rights in making crucial decisions about achieving Palestinian national aspirations.
"It is clear that, especially after the failed conference in Warsaw, it is clear that a new US attempt to change the priorities of the regional agenda and impose an so-called alternative vision for the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict."
Russia said in its statement that "the relentless pursuit of changing the task of achieving a comprehensive political solution with a package of economic rewards and diluting the principle of two states for two peoples raises deep concern."
"Russia maintains its principled approach, which rejects the deviation from the international legal rule on a settlement in the Middle East, including the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly of the United Nations, and the principle of peace in exchange for the territories ratified at the Madrid Conference In 1991, and the Arab peace initiative announced in 2002 ".
"At this difficult stage there is a vital need, more than ever before, for genuine joint efforts aimed at establishing direct and sustainable Palestinian-Israeli negotiations instead of imposing unilateral unilateral deals from abroad," the Russian Foreign Ministry concluded.