UPDATE - Meeting of Russian, US diplomats to take place in Istanbul on Thursday: Russia's foreign minister

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Wednesday that a meeting between Russian and US representatives to discuss embassy operations will take place on Thursday in Istanbul.

"We announced that our diplomats and high-level experts would meet and consider the systemic problems that had accumulated as a result of the illegal activities of the previous (US) administration to create artificial obstacles to the activities of the Russian Embassy, to which we naturally reciprocated and also created uncomfortable conditions for the work of the American Embassy in Moscow," the minister said speaking at a press briefing in Doha, Qatar.

Lavrov expressed hope that after the meeting in Istanbul, "it will be clear to what extent the parties can move quickly and effectively."

Turning to the Israeli-Palestinian settlement, Lavrov said Moscow is deeply concerned that the Israeli army continues to take actions that go beyond the ceasefire agreement, creating tensions on the ground.

"We are very concerned that every day the Israeli army is taking additional steps that are not provided for by agreements with Hamas and Lebanon, and which, in general, create facts on the ground that contradict agreements and contradict UN Security Council resolutions on both Palestinian affairs and the Lebanese problem," he said.

According to Lavrov, Russia and Qatar support progress toward the establishment of a Palestinian state, while viewing the resettlement of Palestinians in the region, rather than statehood, as a "time bomb."

"The issue of establishing a Palestinian State is a key one," he stressed.

According to him, a highly productive dialogue is underway between Russia and the Arab League, with experts holding daily discussions on all issues requiring coordination, including the future of Palestine.

The Russian side, he continued, also places great hopes on the upcoming Arab League summit in Cairo, where “the future of the Gaza Strip will be discussed in the context of various proposals, including the idea of transforming it into a tourist zone.”

"The Arab nations seek to safeguard the Palestinians’ right to live on their land. This has yet to be realized. We will leverage our influence on the international stage, including within the UN, to ensure these processes move forward constructively," he said.

A joint meeting of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on March 14 in Istanbul will examine these issues on a broader scale, addressing Israel-Palestine, Israel-Lebanon, and Israel-Syria relations, Lavrov noted.

"Just as Israeli forces have chosen to remain in southern Lebanon, they have now moved further south in the Syrian Arab Republic. This has created a new reality that necessitates the development of constructive measures balancing security and development interests for all countries in the region, without exception," he said.

The minister emphasized the need to address security and development in a way that does not harm the interests of all nations involved, without compromising the security and progress of others.

Lavrov also ruled out the possibility of European troop deployment in Ukraine, stating that French President Emmanuel Macron misinterpreted US President Donald Trump’s remarks -- Trump had suggested such a move could be possible with the agreement of all parties yet Russia’s consent was never sought.