PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Mr President,

Please allow me to welcome you to Moscow. I am very happy to see you. I will not talk now about the nature of our relations; they are well known.

Unfortunately, the situation in the region is not improving. I am very happy for the opportunity to meet with you and talk about how it is developing and outline certain steps to normalise it. Naturally, we would all very much like for the peace process to be renewed. I know that there are many complications there and I am very happy for the opportunity to exchange views with you on what we need to do together in order to move forward.

PRESIDENT OF THE STATE OF PALESTINE MAHMOUD ABBAS (retranslated): Thank you, Your Excellency, for giving me this opportunity to meet with you. We know how busy you are and particularly value this meeting.