President Vladimir Putin sent a letter to President of France Nicholas Sarkozy.
The full text of the letter reads:
"TO HIS EXCELLENCY MR NICHOLAS SARKOZY, PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
Dear Mr President,
I read with attention your letter informing me about the donors' conference due to take place in Paris as a follow-up to
the international conference on the Middle East in Annapolis.
Russia fully supports this initiative and considers it an important contribution to the common effort to stabilise the
situation and renew the peace process in the Middle East. Consequently, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian
Federation Sergei Lavrov will take part in the Paris conference.
It is my conviction that the Palestinians are in real need of effective support at this stage in the formation of their
statehood. It would be hard to expect progress in achieving a Palestinian-Israeli political settlement and resolving the
serious social and economic problems in the Palestinian territories unless support is provided.
As you know, Russia has worked consistently towards these goals and has always spoken in favour of providing practical
support to the Palestinian National Administration.
I am hopeful that our constructive cooperation will continue in the interests of a speedy and politically fair
settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the establishment of lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.
Respectfully yours,
VLADIMIR PUTIN."
ENDS