Xinhua
January 23, 2012 - 1:00am
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/23/c_131373594.htm


MOSCOW, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Palestinian National Authority (PNA) President Mahmoud Abbas said here on Sunday that the Palestinian authorities are ready to continue peace talks with Israel.

"We will continue the dialog and we will continue the (peace) talks because we consider this to be the only way to a peaceful resolution," Abbas told reporters after his meeting with Russia's chief Mufti Ravil Gainutdin.

Meanwhile, he blamed unconstructive policies adopted by the Israeli authorities, saying they are hindering the peace talks between the two sides.

"As ever, obstacles are made by the Israeli part and their policies," Abbas said. "If the talks fail, this will happen through Israel's fault," he added.

Abbas arrived in Moscow on Thursday for a six-day visit to Russia. He had held talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday, when the two sides discussed ways of restarting the stalled Middle East peace process.

Direct negotiations between Palestine and Israel were suspended in Oct. 2010, after Israel failed to renew a ban on settlement building in the West Bank, which prompted Palestine to leave the talks.




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