Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Central Committee of Fatah, Hussein al-Sheikh, met on Wednesday in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his deputy Mikhail Bogdanov.

The meeting touched on latest developments in the Middle East and prospects of an Israeli-Palestinian settlement.

The officials also discussed efforts to restore Palestinian national unity in accordance with the political program of the PLO, and means to further strengthen Russian-Palestinian relations, WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency reported.

“Russia’s firm readiness to continue supporting the efforts of the Palestinian leadership to achieve the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in establishing their independent state within the 1967 borders and to live in peace and security alongside Israel,” the agency quoted Lavrov as emphasizing.

Russia Today reported that Lavrov conveyed his condolences during the meeting for the death of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, stressing the need for a comprehensive and objective investigation into her murder.

The PLO delegation’s visit to Moscow comes two weeks after a similar visit by Hamas officials, who held talks with Bogdanov.