RUSSIA: RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINSTER SERGEI LAVROV SAYS MOSCOW CONTINUES TO RECOGNISE YASSER ARAFAT AS THE PALESTINIAN LEADER DESPITE HIS ILLNESS

Record ID: 647214

  • Title: RUSSIA: RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINSTER SERGEI LAVROV SAYS MOSCOW CONTINUES TO RECOGNISE YASSER ARAFAT AS THE PALESTINIAN LEADER DESPITE HIS ILLNESS
  • Date: 29th October 2004
  • Summary: (W5) MOSCOW, RUSSIA (OCTOBER 29, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY GUEST BUILDING 0.05 2. SLV RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV ENTERS HALL WITH FOREIGN MINISTER OF REPUBLIC OF CONGO, RUDOLPHE ADADA 0.26 3. SV CONGO DELEGATION 0.30 4. MCU JOURNALISTS TAKING NOTES 0.34 5. SV DELEGATIONS 0.38 6. MCU (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV SAYING: "When we talk about the need for a full implementation of the [Middle East] road map, of course we are working in the knowledge that Yasser Arafat is the popularly-elected leader of the Palestinians and, of course, he should retain his position as the father of the nation. We greatly respect his authority." 1.03 7. SV JOURNALISTS 1.06 8. MCU (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV SAYING: "We do not have any doubts that Israel will keep its promise that it announced, that Arafat can return to the Palestinian territory after his treatment." [AUDIO OF FRENCH TRANSLATION OF LAVROV'S SPEECH] 1.54 9. SV OF DELEGATIONS (2 SHOTS) 2.00 10. SLV/SV LAVROV AND ADADA WALK AWAY (2 SHOTS) 2.14 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 13th November 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Reuters ID: LVA690MZ2CO37JCL16UAA82RNOKA
  • Story Text: Russia says Arafat still in charge despite illness


    Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on
    Friday (October 29) Moscow continues to recognise Yasser
    Arafat as the Palestinian leader despite his illness and
    departure to France for medical treatment.

    The 75-year-old president and former guerrilla leader,
    who has for decades symbolised the conflict with Israel for
    a Palestinian state, on Friday left his shell-battered
    compound in Ramallah where he had been pinned for over two
    and half years.

    Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov called on both
    Israel and Palestine authorities to continue working on
    implementing the Middle East road map for peace despite
    Arafat's illness. Although doctors think Arafat may be
    weakened by leukaemia, Lavrov said there was no question
    that Russia still regarded Arafat as the Palestinian leader.

    "When we talk about the need for a full implementation
    of the road map, of course we are working in the knowledge
    that Yasser Arafat is the popularly-elected leader of the
    Palestinians and, of course, he should retain his position
    as the father of the nation. We greatly respect his
    authority," said Lavrov.

    Lavrov also said he believed Israel would follow
    through with its promise to allow Arafat to return to
    Palestine after treatment.

    "We do not have any doubts that Israel will keep its
    promise that it announced, that Arafat can return to the
    Palestinian territory after his treatment," said Lavrov.

    Arafat agreed to go to France after Israeli Prime
    Minister Ariel Sharon, his long-time foe, said he would let
    him return to the West Bank. Israel had previously said
    that if Arafat left his compound in Ramallah it would not
    guarantee his return.






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