President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with head of the Palestine National Administration Mahmoud Abbas.
Mr Putin and Mr Abbas had a detailed exchange of views on the results of the international meeting on the Middle East
and outlook for the peace process in Annapolis (USA).
Both sides welcomed the positive atmosphere the Annapolis meeting created for continued Palestinian-Israeli talks. The
two leaders noted the importance of the donor-countries' conference in Paris in mid-December and the preparations for a
new meeting on the Middle East peace process in the first half of 2008.
Mr Abbas congratulated Mr Putin on Russia's successful parliamentary election, calling it 'open and fair'.
The telephone conversation took place on Palestine's initiative.
ENDS