The Bush administration sees Russia as a "valuable partner" in international efforts for peace in the Middle East, said State Department spokesman Philip Reeker, reported the Russian Novosti news agency.
The US administration " hails Russian efforts" to assist the sides involved in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in implementing the recommendations of the "Mitchell commission,” he told the press in Washington on Tuesday.
He noted that the USA knows of Vladimir Putin's talks with "leaders in the region" and that the Bush administration stays in contact with the Russian leaders.
In his words, regular talks and contacts on the Middle East are part of the permanent dialogue between US secretary of state Colin Powell and Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov, who are meeting in Budapest these days, above all, for the preparation of a US-Russian summit.
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat met in Moscow Tuesday with Putin and Ivanov. They voiced traditional sympathy with the Palestinian people, but reacted coolly to Arafat’s proposal to hold an international conference to set work mechanisms to implement recommendations Mitchell report – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
