Russia remains a "fully- fledged participant" in the Middle East peace process, whatever its status at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Monday.
"Russia remains a fully-fledged participant in the Middle East peace process and will pursue its efforts to advance it in the way that is most expedient and effective," Ivanov said, cited by Interfax news agency.
"The format of the meeting is not significant. What is important is that it should at least enable the peace process to continue," he added.
Russia's top diplomat remained in Moscow Monday as participants gathered in the Egyptian Red Sea resort in a bid to salvage hopes for peace in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, US President Bill Clinton, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Jordan's King Abdullah II and EU foreign and security policy chief Javier Solana are to discuss an end to the violence in the West Bank and Gaza. The meeting will be hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak – MOSCOW (AFP)
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