Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said in Larnaka Thursday it was too soon to talk of a breakthrough in ending the fighting between Israelis and Palestinians, but there was some prospect of a way out.
Ivanov was speaking at Larnaca airport at the end of a brief trip to Cyprus following a three-day tour taking in Damascus, Beirut, Tel Aviv and Gaza to add Russia's weight to diplomatic efforts to end violence in which more than 100 people have been killed in two weeks.
Asked if he was optimistic about defusing tension, Ivanov told reporters, "I think it is too early to talk about a breakthrough in the search to end a crisis.
"However, with the active involvement of the international community and Russia some prospects of a way out of the crisis have been found. Our efforts will continue to stop the violence and bring normality to the situation so a peace dialogue can restart.
"This is in the interest of both Arabs and Israelis."
Asked if the violence had irreparably damaged the peace process, Ivanov replied, "Any crisis has a negative input in the dialogue, especially a crisis which has claimed so many lives.
"This is why I said that after the termination of the crisis it is necessary for normality to return, so as to create suitable conditions for the continuation of the dialogue. Russia remains firm in its position that the crisis must end and a peaceful solution reached through dialogue."
Intensive diplomatic efforts by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan have produced an agreement to reactivate a three-way US-Israel-Palestinian security panel, which would meet at a high level as soon as possible, the UN announced Wednesday -- LARNACA, Cyprus (AFP)
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