Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled progress Wednesday in efforts by Russia's Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov, to get the Middle East peace process back on track.
Speaking on a visit to the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, Putin said that Ivanov had telephoned him to report "a process of the coming together of positions," Interfax news agency reported.
"I will be careful, but certain agreements have been reached which allow one to hope that the peace process can be restored," Putin said.
It was not immediately clear what agreements Putin may have been referring to.
Putin dispatched Ivanov to the Middle East to help negotiate an end to two weeks of Arab-Israeli violence that has claimed some 100 lives.
Ivanov held separate talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Tuesday.
Russia is a co-sponsor with the United States of the Middle East peace process – MOSCOW (AFP)
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