Any changes for the better can happen only on the basis of a collective effort, because "hardly can anybody play single-handed in regional settlement". Vigorous efforts will be required very soon to back up the new Palestinian leadership, the interviewee said.
Progress in deblocking the conflict so far remains, in his opinion, at the level of hopes and forecasts because the leadership of Palestine is still living through the transitional period. It will have to meet such no simple goals as putting things in order on the Palestinian lands, creating favourable conditions for the holding of free, democratic election of the head of the Palestinian National Authority, due on January 9.
According to official declarations, Kalugin said, Israel is ready to promote the normal course of election, agreeing to the involvement of residents of East Jerusalem in the vote in form used in 1996 - by mail.
The Israeli position consists in further implementation of the "plan for delimitation" with the Palestinian Authority. In the meantime, Israel is ready to coordinate fulfilment of this non-alternative programme with the Palestinian leadership on the condition of its responsible approach to putting an end to terrorism.
Kalugin believes that the resumption of a constructive dialogue could not have been delayed by linking preliminary conditions and contacts could have been arranged now for the discussion of humanitarian, social, economic and financial problems. This meets both the Palestinian and Israeli interests, he stressed.
International support stands out here. The United States secretary of state, British foreign minister, Egyptian representatives are going to visit the region. "It cannot be ruled out that the Russian side, too, will very soon have contacts with the new Palestinian leaders", Alexander Kalugin said.
In view of the variegated Palestinian political picture, the current contacts of the new Palestinian leadership seeking the conclusion of the cease-fire agreement are crucial. It is the key condition for the ensurance of a free election. Such an agreement will give no pretext for declarations that the Palestinian authorities are allegedly on the road of terror and would not move towards peace, Kalugin said.
During the international conference on Iraq, slated for the 20th of November in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, members of the Middle Eastern Quartet (the United Nations, European Union, Russia and the United States) may meet to ponder the Palestinian-Israeli problem. The Quartet's further steps may be mapped out here, the Russian diplomat thinks.
