President Vladimir Putin described the current developments in the Middle East, especially the recently started Israeli pullout from the Palestinian Authority, as encouraging in a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. He said the positive developments needed to be upheld by further efforts to ease the tensions and stabilise the region, renew negotiations and curb extremist activities.
He also said that Russia was willing to cooperate jointly with the concerned parties to resolve the crisis, following the Tenet-Mitchell Scheme and other proposed plans currently discussed by the international mediators.
The two leaders also exchanged opinions on key issues of bilateral Russian-Israeli cooperation.