Russian Church willing to help settlement of Arab-Israeli conflict - Alexy II

21 April 2008, 10:33

Moscow, April 21, Interfax - Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia has assured Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that the Russian Church is willing to contribute towards a peaceful resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

"The Russian Orthodox Church fully supports efforts being made by Russia and other countries to achieve reconciliation in the Middle East," the patriarch said at a meeting with Abbas in Moscow.

Alexy II said he hoped Russia's initiative on holding a Middle East conference would help achieve this goal.

"The Russian Orthodox Church regularly prays for peace in the Holy Land. We are prepared to do all we can to help reach mutual understanding between all the conflicting parties to achieve accord in the entire Middle Eastern region," he said.

Abbas promised in response to try to help the Moscow Patriarchate regain property it formerly owned in the Palestinian territory.

"As regards the Russian Orthodox Church's property, we are making every possible effort to return this property to Russia as soon as possible, so that it could use it as it sees fit," Abbas said.

The Palestinian Authority is "most seriously determined to establish close ties with the Moscow Patriarchate and Russia on the whole," he said.

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