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Sharon to Visit Moscow Amid Russia's Greater Mediating Efforts
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will pay a visit to Russia on Monday, as Russia is stepping up its mediating efforts to ease tension in the Middle East.
Sergei Prikhodko, deputy chief of the Presidential Office, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Sharon will discuss Russia's involvement in a Middle East settlement.
Russia is ready to make joint efforts with the international community to defuse the deteriorating situation in the region, he said.
The Russian Itar-Tass news agency on Sunday quoted Palestinian sources as saying that a senior Palestinian delegation would visit Moscow next week following Sharon's trip.
Israeli Ambassador to Russia Natan Meron on Sunday told Itar- Tass that "Moscow's position is very important for Israel, since Russia can make a serious contribution to de-escalating tension in the region."
In a foreign policy speech Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov mentioned that a Russian representative would probably be sent to the Middle East region on a mediating mission.
Israeli and Palestinian leaders are under mounting pressure to put an end to the Middle East bloodshed that has lasted for over 11 months, leaving more than 700 people dead, most of them Palestinians.
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