JERUSALEM/WEST BANK: RUSSIAN FM SERGEI LAVROV REACTS TO OUTCOME OF UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS / PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR FUTURE PALESTINIAN LEADER

Record ID: 649464

  • Title: JERUSALEM/WEST BANK: RUSSIAN FM SERGEI LAVROV REACTS TO OUTCOME OF UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS / PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR FUTURE PALESTINIAN LEADER
  • Date: 23rd November 2004
  • Summary: (U7) JERUSALEM (NOVEMBER 23, 2004) (REUTERS) WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV SAYING: "We are not interfering in internal matters of other countries. I think that Ukraine should live on the basis of its constitution and in accordance with its laws and procedures. That's it." WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE (U7) RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (NOVEMBER 23, 2004) (REUTERS) (NIGHTSHOTS) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV ARRIVING AT GRAVE OF LATE PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT; LAVROV LAYING WREATH PAN: LAVROV LEAVING GRAVE WALKING INTO COMPOUND VARIOUS OF LAVROV MEETING WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MAHMOUD ABBAS AND OTHER PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS (2 SHOTS) WIDE OF ABBAS AND LAVROV ENTERING CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABBAS SAYING: "The meeting (with the Russian foreign minister) came after the Quartet committee meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh which discussed the Road Map and the Quartet's role in the future. The minister also briefed us on his meeting with the Israeli prime minister and the Israeli foreign minister. The Minister told us extremely important things and this encourages us to see a prosperous future." (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) LAVROV SAYING: "The Quartet will support anyone who wins the Palestinian elections, as long as it is somebody who has been chosen by the Palestinian people." WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE; LAVROV AND ABBAS SHAKING HANDS AND WALKING AWAY
  • Embargoed: 8th December 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JERUSALEM/RAMALLAH, WEST BANK
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABEBCKUJA1MQPRX08A5ZNR8RMU
  • Story Text: Russian Foreign Minister calls for rule of law in Ukraine and pledges support for future Palestinian leader during talks in the West Bank.
    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, on a one-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, reacted to the outcome of controversial election results in Ukraine on Tuesday (November 23).
    Some 150 Ukrainian diplomats denounced on Tuesday disputed presidential elections which appear to have handed victory to Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich over liberal rival Viktor Yushchenko.
    "We cannot remain silent and observe a situation which could call into doubt Ukraine's democratic development and destroy the efforts of many years to return our country to Europe...," said the statement issued in the name of diplomatic service officials.
    Official returns from Sunday's election gave Yanukovich an unassailable lead with most of the ballots counted, though no winner has been officially declared.
    Lavrov on Tuesday called on Ukraine to stand by its constitution and to abide by its laws.
    "We are not interfering in internal matters of other countries. I think that Ukraine should live on the basis of its constitution and in accordance with its laws and procedures,"
    Lavro v said.
    Yushchenko accused authorities of staging a coup d'etat to deny him victory through mass fraud.
    A statement earlier on Tuesday, signed by about 20 middle-ranking diplomats, said the election had been "turned into a shameful war against our own people".
    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Palestinian officials in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday night (November 23) as his 1-day visit to the region drew to a close.
    Lavrov visited the grave of late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat before holding talks with presidential-hopeful Mahmoud Abbas.
    At a joint press conference Lavrov expressed his support to the next Palestinian leader, saying that any leader would enjoy backing, as long as he was elected freely and fairly by the people.
    Abbas said the meeting was encouraging and signalled a optimism of a "prosperous future" for the Palestinians.
    "The meeting (with the Russian foreign minister) came after the Quartet committee meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh which discussed the Road Map and the Quartet's role in the future. The minister also briefed us on his meeting with the Israeli prime minister and the Israeli foreign minister. The Minister told us extremely important things and this encourages us to see a prosperous future," Abbas said.
    Lavrov met earlier with Israeli officials in Jerusalem.
    He held talks with both Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.
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