The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria states that the information reported by Kavkaz-Centre and the Russian Interfax news agency, citing Russia's Federal Security Service, claiming that Chechen commanders were preparing to send Chechen fighters to the Middle East is a groundless lie.

We believe that this and suchlike statements have their origins in the Russian security services. We again note that the Kavkaz-Center news agency has no connection whatsoever to the Chechen people and the Chechen cause.

The Chechen Republic of Ichkeria' position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is clear. We urge both parties to the conflict to refrain from using violence, and to take all necessary steps to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.

We welcome the agreement of the leaders of the two sides to attend meeting in Egypt on Monday. We hope that the meeting will put end to the ongoing hostilities. We believe that force and violence should not be used to settle the differences. Only negotiations can bring peace to Palestinians and Israelis, as well as to the whole region.