FM Lieberman: It is important to resume the direct talks with the Palestinians. The entire Israeli government supports this, but we will not accept any payment for this and there is no chance that the building freeze will be extended.
 
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs  Avigdor Lieberman met today (Tuesday, 6 July 2010) in Helsinki with Finnish President Tarja Halonen. FM Lieberman thanked President Halonen for the good bilateral relationship and discussed various issues with him.

The two leaders discussed the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations in light of the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and US President Obama. FM Lieberman stated that "It is important to resume the direct talks with the Palestinians. The entire Israeli government supports this, but we will not accept any payment for this and there is no chance that the building freeze will be extended. On 26 September, life in Judea and Samaria will return to normal. If the Palestinians desire a normal life for their people, their only recourse is to return to the negotiations with no preconditions."  

Earlier, FM Lieberman met with Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, and discussed Israel-Finland bilateral relations with him. FM Lieberman expressed Israel's appreciation of Finland's balanced approach to Israel in the European Union and other international organizations. The two also discussed the Iranian issue, and FM Lieberman stated that nuclear weapons in the hands of Iran will pose a threat to the stability of the Middle East and the entire world.

FM Lieberman also met with Finnish Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen and discussed possible means of strengthening economic ties between the two countries with him.