RAMALLAH, Safar 6, 1433, Dec 31, 2011, SPA - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday received a message from Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov regarding the current situation in the (Mideast) region, especially in Syria. The Russian ambassador to Palestine, Alexander Rudakov, handed over the message to President Abbas, according to a report of Palestine News and Information Agency "WAFA." Abbas briefed Rudakov on the (Mideast) Quartet efforts and of his upcoming visit to Moscow in January. He stressed that Israel must uphold its obligations to halt settlements, accept the principle of the two-state solution, and release veteran Palestinian prisoners to resume negotiations by the next Quartet meeting on January 26. --SPA 15:01 LOCAL TIME 12:01 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/957469