Russian President Dmitry Medvedev began his tour of the Middle East on Tuesday with talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank.
This is Medvedev's first visit to the Palestinian Territories and the first visit of a Russian leader since 2005.
Medvedev and Abbas will discuss bilateral relations and the Middle East peace process. They also plan to sign several bilateral cooperation agreements. The two leaders will hold a joint news conference after the meeting.
Palestinian agenda
The Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement is a key issue on the agenda, Russian presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko said on the eve of the visit.
Direct talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, which resumed last September in Washington after a 20-month standoff, came to a deadlock after Israel refused to halt construction in the occupied West Bank.
The Palestinians have said they will not return to the negotiation table unless the building of settlements, which are considered illegal under international law, is completely stopped.
Prikhodko said Russia wants members of the League of Arab States and, ideally, Palestinians and Israelis to join the Quartet of Middle East mediators as soon as possible. The Quartet currently comprises of Russia, the United States, the United Nations, and the EU.
When asked about the Russian role in the Middle East peace process, Prikhodko said that Russia "does not consider itself a Messiah, but is ready to provide a responsible approach to the problem as uncoordinated efforts threaten to waste time."
The Russian authorities recently proposed holding a peace conference on the Middle East. Prikhodko said the idea was being discussed, but not all of the parties were ready for it.
The presidential aide also said that Russia would continue to provide the Palestinians with humanitarian aid. The issue is expected to be discussed during Tuesday's meeting.
So far, Russia has allocated some $30 million to the impoverished Palestinian Territories, Prikhodko said. The Palestinian economy has plunged significantly in the past two decades, with current unemployment rates reaching 40 percent of the labor force. Some 60 percent of the West Bank population and about 80 percent of Gaza residents live below the poverty line.
Jordan talks
Late on Tuesday, Medvedev will depart for Jordan, where he will meet with King Abdullah II for an official dinner. Russian-Jordanian top-level talks will take place in Amman on Wednesday.
Middle East peace efforts, and energy and military cooperation will be among the issues for discussion during the Russian president's visit, Prikhodko said on Monday.
Russia is interested in helping Jordan build its first nuclear power plant, the aide said, adding that it was not "an issue to be settled in the next few days." Several other countries have also applied to build the plant, which is expected to go into operation by 2018.
Russia and Jordan signed a 10-year nuclear cooperation agreement in 2009.
Abdullah II last visited Russia in March for talks with Medvedev and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The leaders discussed Middle East settlement, bilateral military cooperation and joint projects in the hi-tech and tourism spheres, as well as in the nuclear energy sector.
JERICHO (WEST BANK), January 18 (RIA Novosti)
