Russia, Palestine seek to upgrade relationship
While commemorating over four decades of relations, Russia seeks to strengthen cultural ties with Palestine.
Russia and Palestine are celebrating the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in an interview with Russian journalists on the eve of the anniversary, said Russia is "one of the main friends of the Palestinians."
"We were completely satisfied with how our relations were developing — first with the Soviet Union and then with the Russian Federation. They have always been smooth and have never — either in the Soviet era or now — undergone any changes," he said.
"We do not need to specifically turn to it for support on international platforms since it has always stood and still stands on the side of our people," Abbas added.
Bilateral relations are believed to have been formally established in 1974, when the PLO opened an office in Moscow. However, the PLO and the USSR had first made contact several years earlier. In 1968, Gamal Abdel Nasser, president of the United Arab Republic, introduced Yasser Arafat to Soviet leaders during a visit to Moscow.
