MOSCOW, January 3. /TASS/: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told new Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in their telephone conversation on Tuesday about readiness for joint work to enhance bilateral cooperation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"The minister congratulated his Israeli counterpart on taking office and expressed readiness to work together in order to strengthen multifaceted, mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and Israel," the statement said.
The ministry pointed out that the two top diplomats touched upon pressing bilateral issues, emphasizing the significance of strengthening trade and economic cooperation.
"In this context, they emphasized the need to convene a next meeting of the mixed Russian-Israeli commission," the ministry added.
In addition, the ministers focused on the situation in the Middle East and North Africa.
"While discussing the Palestinian-Israeli settlement, the Russian side emphasized its willingness to continue facilitating a relaunch of the peace process on a generally recognized international legal basis," the statement said.
Lavrov reiterated the Russian position in favor of normalizing the Syria crisis through political and diplomatic efforts while respecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the need to eliminate the terrorist threat in that country in accordance with Resolution 2254 of the UN Security Council.
""The Russian foreign minister also informed his Israeli counterpart about certain aspects of the situation in Ukraine in the context of Russia’s special military operation," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
