Haniyeh, Lavrov discuss developments in Gaza

Prime Minister of the deposed Palestinian government Ismail Haniyeh telephoned Russian Foreign Ministry Sergei Lavrov during which they discussed the developments in Gaza the Israeli blockade of the Strip. Russian Foreign Ministry said on its website 'Russia favors the speedy lifting of the blockade of the Gaza Strip and continues to support the creation of an independent Palestinian state'. Lavrov pinpointed the importance of restoring Palestinian national unity on the political platform of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Speaking about the Arab peace initiative, he said that it should be a key factor promoting a durable Palestinian-Israeli settlement on the universally accepted principles of international law. Haniyeh informed Lavrov in detail about the socio-economic situation in the Gaza Strip and spelled out his opinion on ways of bridging the existing differences between the two main Palestinian factions - Fatah and Hamas.