ARAB-CIS RELATIONS - Aug. 11 - Russia Backs Palestinian State.

Russia gives its backing for an independent Palestinian state but warns Palestinian leader Arafat, to exercise caution before carrying out his intention to declare independence on Sept. 13. Arafat has met Russian leaders in Moscow in an effort to seek international support for his position following the collapse of the Camp David peace talks.) Russian Pres. Putin says the Russian position had always been one of respect for Palestinian rights. He says he had followed what he calls "the difficult process" of the Camp David summit. A spokesman for Putin says the only way for a Palestinian state to emerge is through peace talks. Russian FM Ivanov tells Arafat to exercise "extreme caution" on the timing of his decision to declare independence. Ivanov says: "It is important that this step should guarantee the achievement of the Palestinian-Israeli [peace] settlement, and on the other hand that it should create... a fully independent Palestinian state". The Russian FM says Putin had been asked by Arafat to increase Moscow's role in the peace process. (Russia is a co-sponsor of the peace process, along with the US, but has played a minor role in recent years.) Ivanov says Russia would propose ideas to help both sides to bridge their differences. (Arafat's visit to Moscow is the latest in a series of international trips to seek support for the position he adopted at the summit. Arafat is not the only one doing the diplomatic rounds. His closest aides have been busy travelling, as have top Israeli and US officials.) On Aug. 11, Israel's newly appointed acting FM Shlomo Ben Ami meets Spanish FM Pique in Barcelona. Pique earlier met senior Palestinian official Shaath, who welcomed a Spanish initiative to host a ME peace conference in 2001, 10 years after the landmark conference in Madrid. (Israeli Justice Minister Beilin has had high-level talks in Washington and Regional Cooperation Minister Peres has also gone to Oslo.)