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The two leaders focused on issues related to the Middle East peace process. President Putin said in the course of the talks that Russia was ready to contribute to the settlement process as much as Israel and Palestine would like it to.

The Russian-Israeli top-level talks confirmed Russia’s status as a co-sponsor of the Middle East peace process, an impartial mediator and advocate of rapprochement and mutually acceptable political solutions. Russia supports progress towards a comprehensive Arab-Israeli settlement through the resumption of the peace process launched at the Madrid Conference.

Russia strongly condemns violence and calls for taking effective measures to fight terrorism. It also believes it is important for the international community to provide useful assistance to the conflicting sides.

Mr Putin and Mr Sharon also discussed the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Israel’s Prime Minister pointed to the need to check the flow of WMD into such countries as Iran and Iraq. President Putin reminded his counterpart of Russia’s unyielding position on the observance of the non-proliferation regime.

Mr Sharon commended Russia’s role in the world and expressed special appreciation for the Soviet Union’s key part in defeating the Nazis in World War II, saving the world and the lives of many Jews.

Mr Sharon invited Mr Putin to visit Israel.