Vladimir Putin to discuss Mideast settlement with Ariel Sharon

Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss Mideast settlement and the road map plan implementation with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a source in the presidential administration told RIA Novosti. According to the agency's interlocutor, the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister to Moscow was planned long ago. He also pointed out that after Sharon's visit, the Prime Minister of Palestine was to arrive in the Russian capital but his visit will not take place in the near future because of the internal political problem in the autonomy.

The Kremlin's source stressed that "negotiations with Ariel Sharon are our contribution as a sponsor to settlement in the Middle East and the implementation of the road map plan." "The political dialogue alone can prevent extremism and violence," he added and emphasized that "Russia condemns any manifestations of terrorism from any side no matter how substantiated." Putin and Sharon will also discuss bilateral Russian-Israeli relations, the source reported.