Russia will continue its aid to the Middle East settlement and the Palestinian state despite all difficulties that the country faces, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.

In his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday, Medvedev said, “We really feel friendship towards the Palestinian people. Despite colossal difficulties that we face we will, of course, provide further support to the Middle East settlement and development of the Palestinian state.”

Medvedev thanked Abbas for the efforts taken by Palestine “to strengthen the bilateral dialogue and transfer certain land lots to Russia”. In particular, last year four land lots in Bethlehem and Jericho were transferred to Russia’s property.

“We value these relations and we’re very grateful to you,” Medvedev said.

At the meeting with Abbas the Russian president proposed to exchange information and determine plans for the future. “Since our last meeting (last December) very dramatic events have been taken place. Now we are discussing them how to build our work, including on the Middle East settlement, in total around Palestine,” he said.

“In recent years rather key international events have happened that I’ d like to discuss,” Medvedev added. “There is sense to exchange information and determine plans for the future,” the Russian president said.

Palestine attaches much importance to its talks with Russia in order to coordinate issues related to the situation in the region, Abbas said. “We rivet much attention to our talks with Russia to coordinate all issues related to the situation in the region. We consider this important and intend to continue this.”

The Palestinian leader said he is convinced that close relations between Russia and Palestine “will be strengthened, including through expanding and strengthening the Russian presence on the Holy Land by developing and building a land lot that Russia intends to register as its property”.

Medvedev told Abbas that Russia would continue its support to Palestine. Russia will continue its aid to the Middle East settlement and the Palestinian state despite all difficulties that the country faces. “We really feel friendship towards the Palestinian people. Despite colossal difficulties that we face we will, of course, provide further support to the Middle East settlement and development of the Palestinian state.”