MOSCOW: Presidents of Russia and Turkey, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Thursday expressed serious concern with regard to the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Jordan News Agency (Petra) reported, citing the Kremlin press service, told Bernama.

“Both sides expressed serious concern in connection with the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and its announcing plans to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

“These moves can derail prospects for the Middle East peace process,” the report said.

In a phone conversation initiated by the Turkish side, Erdogan informed Putin about convocation on Dec 13 of an emergency summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on the situation around Jerusalem.

The two leaders stressed inadmissibility of escalation of tensions in the region. They said efforts of the international community must be aimed at contributing to restart of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations with an aim to seek a compromise solution for all problems, including the status of Jerusalem.

“Russia and Turkey confirmed commitment to achieving a just and viable settlement of the Middle East crisis first of all on the basis of corresponding resolutions of the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly and enforcement of the rights of the Palestinian people to establish their own state,” the press service said.