RUSSIA: NON-PAPER ON ARAB-ISRAELI PEACE PROCESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 002564 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV KISR IS RS SUBJECT: RUSSIA: NON-PAPER ON ARAB-ISRAELI PEACE PROCESS RECEIVED Classified By: DCM Eric S. Rubin. Reasons: 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (C) At a meeting with EUR DAS Dan Russell October 12, MFA North America Acting Director Oleg Burmistrov passed the U.S. a non-paper on the Israeli-Arab conflict resolution. A scan of the non-paper has been e-mailed to EUR/RUS. An unofficial translation follows below. ¶2. (C) Unofficial translation of non-paper: -- We reaffirm commitment to reaching a comprehensive, equitable, and solid solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, based on the generally accepted basis of international law, including UNSCRs 242, 338, 197, 1515, and 1850, the Madrid Principles, and also the Arab Peace Initiative. -- Such a settlement should lead to the termination of the occupation of the Arab territories within the 1967 borders, with possible equivalent territorial exchanges, and to the creation of an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state, living in peace and security with Israel. -- Guided by this understanding, Russia and the U.S. support a speedy resumption of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, among other things concerning the final status, and support the efforts of G. Mitchell undertaken with that purpose. -- We confirm the corresponding announcements of the "Quartet" and consider the Moscow Conference on the Middle East to be an important stage of the joint efforts of the international community. It will be convened following a resumption of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, in order to strengthen the positive momentum on this path toward an Arab-Israeli settlement, and to enable the beginning of movement in its other directions, including a multilateral dimension of the peace process. Beyrle