[ 19/01/2011 - 07:49 PM ] RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has made his first visit to Palestine without stepping foot on Israeli-occupied soil.
World leaders usually visit Israel when visiting Palestine to show impartiality.
Observers say the visit was also distinguished by the president's backing of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Medvedev criticized US envoy to the Mideast peace process George Mitchell, a Russian news source says, quoting Medvedev: "Negotiations are facing a recession. There is no movement at the present time; which is sad because this accompanies a full number of negative factors, including the Gaza siege."
The Russian Vedomosti newspaper quoted one expert as saying: "Russia, which shares good relations with Hamas, Fatah, Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Israel, is able to sponsor fair, multilateral negotiations. But negotiations' success depends on Israel, as Israel seems currently uninterested in the peace process."
Medvedev held a trilateral summit with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Hamas politburo chief Khalid Mishaal last May then described by observers as a historic meeting that secured Hamas's place in the international political scene.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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