Dmitry Medvedev's article.
There are places in the world that astound us all with how many treasures of civilisation they possess. One such place is the holy land of Palestine, a cradle of cultures and religions, a long-suffering area of clashes and age-old conflicts, a place of historical memory and ceaseless pilgrimage. Palestine’s history is awe-inspiring. Some of the most important spiritual and political currents of the Middle East region, and indeed of civilisation as a whole, converge here. This is why my coming here is much more than an ordinary foreign visit.
Moscow highly values the decades-old friendly relations between Russia and Palestine. We have supported the Palestinian people since the Soviet era and have always called for a fair solution to the Palestinian issue based on UN Security Council resolutions and General Assembly decisions.
The Middle East today is the setting for dramatic events and human tragedy. The lack of foresight on the part of certain leaders, who failed to steer their nations onto the path of modern development, and the irresponsibility and egoism of other leaders, who decided that they had the right to interfere in the internal affairs of others in order to achieve their own ends, have turned this potentially very prosperous region into a conflict zone. Terrorism and sectarian strife are threatening all countries not only in this part of the world but practically everywhere. But it is here that we must start unwinding the knotted disagreements that are a source of instability around the world.
The Palestinian issue has been overshadowed recently by the dramatic developments in the region. But Russia has always upheld the firm position that its resolution is a top priority and an essential condition for a comprehensive and just settlement in the broader Middle East. The fate of the Palestinian people and their statehood is an indicator showing to what extent the leading regional and global powers are prepared to deal with the most pressing issues of global development.
It is extremely important to expedite the resumption of the Palestinian-Israeli dialogue in order to finally resolve the issue of the coexistence of two equal states. Moscow will never abandon this position of principle.
Our country’s relationship with Palestine officially began on 30 November 1974, when Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), visited Moscow. In 1976, the PLO opened a permanent mission in Moscow, which was transformed into the Embassy of the State of Palestine in 1990.
Our bilateral cooperation has been developing in many areas. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visits Moscow for a confidential exchange of views with the Russian leadership on a wide range of regional and international issues. Russia’s top leaders have visited Palestine three times. President Vladimir Putin visited Ramallah in April 2005 and June 2012. I have fond memories of my visit to the ancient city of Jericho in January 2011. I had the honour of opening the Russian Museum and Park Complex, which was built on land Russia purchased in the 19th century. The greatest ornament and relic of this place is a sycamore that is known as Zacchaeus’ Tree and is mentioned in the Gospels. As a gift to the Palestinian people, a multifunctional complex on Vladimir Putin Street in Bethlehem was built.
We are focused on expanding economic cooperation. Of course, it is difficult to get round the unfavourable factors created by the challenging military and political situation and overall instability in the region. But our efforts have met with some success. In April 2015, we created the Russia-Palestine Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation and expect it to make a big contribution to the development of our bilateral business partnership.
Our bilateral trade is modest so far, but there is an upward trend. For example, trade between us grew by 2.3 times in 2015 compared to 2014. Moreover, the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan) have created highly favourable conditions for Palestinian goods by lifting customs duties on Palestinian imports to this integration association with 180 million consumers. In the past few years, we have signed several intergovernmental and interagency agreements that will boost bilateral cooperation.
An array of new bilateral documents will be signed on the sidelines of my visit to Palestine. Work is underway to promote an even more favourable atmosphere for progress, mutual investment, and industrial, agricultural, trade and cultural cooperation.
Palestine is in a difficult situation and Moscow regularly provides it with substantial financial assistance on a bilateral basis and through international organisations. Over the past several years, in keeping with established practice, Russia has provided significant financial resources to Palestine to meet its current budget spending: a total of $40 million was provided for these purposes in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2013.
In 2015, an additional $5 million was provided to Palestine for reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, which was damaged by the Israeli attack in July and August 2014. In response to Mahmoud Abbas’s request, in August 2014, the Russian Government provided funds to procure medications and medical equipment for the population of the Palestinian enclave, which was essentially cut off from the outside world.
Russia will also finance the upgrade of Bethlehem’s historical and religious centre: the renovation of Star Street abutting the Church of the Nativity. Among other things, this is about our civilisational responsibility for the fate of Christian shrines in Palestine. We are grateful to the Palestinian leadership for its energetic assistance in our effort to reinstate and strengthen the Russian cultural and historical presence in the Holy Land. There are three landmark projects there. In Bethlehem, on land given by the Palestinian authorities to the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society, we have financed the construction of a Russian centre of science and culture. In 2014 a secondary school for boys was opened there. It has offered a Russian-language course since 2015. I will bring Russian language textbooks for Palestinian schools when I go to Palestine for a visit.
Russia traditionally provides assistance in training Palestinians in specialties that are in demand now and particularly for the future. Thousands of Palestinians hold degrees from our country.
The Palestinian leadership and the entire Palestinian people face numerous, urgent challenges that are aggravated by the general atmosphere of uncertainty that prevails in the Middle East today. Palestinian statehood, which is still young and going through the difficult process of formation, is especially vulnerable. I would like to offer assurances that Russia has been and will remain a reliable friend to the Palestinian people. We will do all we can for your country’s well-being and security.
