Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will visit Russia in January, Itar-Tass reported Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who met with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Maliki in Moscow, also said Russia would continue its contacts with the leadership of Hamas.

“Russia thereby is trying to make its contribution to the Palestinian unity,” he said, Itar-Tass reported. “The situation in the Middle East raises concerns in Moscow.”

(MT)