Meeting with Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres.
They discussed the situation in the Middle East.
Vladimir Putin offered his assurance that Russia will continue to play its necessary role in the negotiation process to achieve a Middle Eastern peace settlement within the Quartet of international mediators.
The Russian President expects to meet with the new Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, in the near future.
For his part, Shimon Peres emphasized that Israel is ready to negotiate with the leadership of Palestine.
The Israeli Vice Premier highly appreciates Russia’s position with regard to the Iranian nuclear programme.