Russian President Vladimir Putin called Wednesday for a Middle East peace conference in Moscow in the autumn, and said he would discuss the proposal with Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during his visit to Israel, set to start Wednesday night.
"I am suggesting that we should convene a conference for all these countries concerned and the Quartet, next autumn," Putin said in Russian during a joint press conference with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Putin said contacts were ongoing to determine the level of participation and the agenda for the gathering, adding: "I hope to discuss with other colleagues concerned about moving forward the peace process in the Middle East."
The Russian Head of State said he wanted to "reactivate the role of the international mediators".
