Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shakes hands with Azzam al-Ahmad, center, head of the Fatah group as Hamas deputy leader Musa Abu Marzuq, right, looks on during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Monday, (AP).
Palestinian authorities do not intend to declare unilateral independence, a top Fatah member said Tuesday following talks with senior Russian officials.
"We do not intend to unilaterally declare independence," Fatah member Azzam al-Ahmed said one day after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
He added that Russia supported the Palestinians' idea of submitting the independent state initiative for a vote at the United Nations, although he failed to specify whether Moscow had also promised to vote yes.
"Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed at yesterday's meeting that Russia supports this process," al-Ahmed told reporters.
Lavrov on Monday reaffirmed Russia's support for the Palestinian reconciliation process, which has upset Israel because of the involvement of Hamas, an Islamist movement the Jewish state sees as an extremist organisation.
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