Transcript of Putin's Press Conference

Middle East confrontation is regrettable

As for a settlement in the Middle East and the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, we feel great regret that the confrontation has reached such a high intensity. It is a great shame that the many years spent by the previous Israeli leadership and the Palestinian leadership have been brought almost to nothing, and that the efforts of the international community have also practically come to nothing.

I agree that we have no more important task than to stop the violence by both sides, and to do so without delay. Only on this basis can we resolve all the other issues - and they are very serious issues - that we face in the region and that divide these two states.

But in my view it will be extremely difficult to achieve this if we do not take into account the interests of all states in the region. For this to happen we have to listen to the justified demands and legal interests of, for example, Syria; to hear what Egypt is saying; and so on and so on.

There is no doubt that we should work towards the reduction of confrontation on the Israeli-Lebanese track. We know how these countries can influence various regional forces. So, I repeat, we shall not be able to achieve the final settlement of all complex problems in the Middle East without the legitimate interests of these states taken into account.

Russia is ready to contribute to the cause of that settlement. I would like to stress that we shall work for any accords not to harm any of the sides in the conflict. It applies both to Israel and to our Palestinian friends.

[Moderator] The next question please - in the second row.