At the outset, I would like to express my gratitude to the Egyptian leadership for the cordial welcome, hospitality and excellent organization of our talks.

Over recent years, relations between our states have acquired a new quality. It is enough to mention that trade has since 2003 increased fivefold. The existing plans of further development of bilateral relations are even more impressive. There are good projects in the oil and gas, electricity, nuclear energy, transport, space and high tech areas. We have agreed to work on holding the next summit of the presidents of Russia and Egypt and will be preparing the documents to record the new quality of our relations. The message of President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev to President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt refers to our intention to develop the strategic partnership with Egypt, both in terms of the advancement of bilateral ties and on the international scene. This primarily concerns the Middle East settlement process.

We actively support the leading initiative role Egypt plays at this critical phase where resolving the situation in and around Gaza is concerned, along with restoring Palestinian unity and ensuring that the League of Arab States acts as a united front. The active and many-sided character of our partnership with Egypt in international affairs is confirmed in the cooperation plan signed with my counterpart between the two countries’ Foreign Ministries. This is the first document of this kind that Russia has concluded with the countries of the Middle East region and with the countries of the African continent.

Like my friend, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Aboul Gheit, I am certain that the visa facilitation agreement signed by us will help the further development of contacts between our citizens in the most diverse fields.

I look forward to new meetings in Russia and in Egypt.

Question: How does the idea of holding in Moscow a conference on the Middle East or in other words Annapolis 2 square with the recently voiced French proposals to hold an event on the Mideast agenda in Paris?

Foreign Minister Lavrov: The Moscow conference will be held in the first half of this year in line with the accords that are set forth in the Quartet’s decision in UN Security Council resolution 1850 and which were widely supported by the League of Arab States, the parties themselves and the world community at large.

Question: In the course of the recent tragic events around the Gaza Strip the impression formed that Russia was not doing all that which is expected from it in this connection. How will you comment upon this?

Foreign Minister Lavrov: We never held a passive stance. We were in fact the first country to send the special Presidential envoy to the region at the very start of January. He actively worked with the sides and championed an end to bloodshed. We were among the initiators of the adoption of resolution 1850 and support the initiative of Egypt in carrying out this document in practice. At the same time we hear assessments that Russia could have come up with an alternative initiative. I consider this a provocation. In the conditions when we must all rally around Egypt’s efforts, attempts to create political spoilers in this direction are harmful.

Question: Are you continuing contacts with Hamas?

Foreign Minister Lavrov: Our contacts with Hamas did not cease, they are continuing. Their aim is clear and understandable: we’re working towards restoring Palestinian unity and our contacts with Hamas are a contribution to the common work that is now being carried out under the coordinating role of Egypt.