Arafat met Russia s leadership and appealed for urgent action to stop the bloodshed. He was later to fly to Denmark for meetings with European Union officials. We think urgent international actions are needed to stop the dangerous spiral of violence, the economic blockade and the shortages of food and medicine from which our people are suffering, Arafat said after meeting Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. President Vladimir Putin also discussed Middle East peace efforts by telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, moments before meeting Arafat in the Kremlin. Unfortunately, the situation in the Middle East is almost out of control, Interfax news agency quoted Putin as saying as he opened his talks with Arafat.
Every day there are victims on both the Palestinian and Israeli sides.
Moscow has limited clout in the region, but is a co-sponsor of Middle East talks alongside Washington and is often used by both sides as a foil when seeking broader international support. Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres visited last week. The Palestinians, traditionally suspicious of US intentions, have called on Moscow and Europe to boost their role in peace efforts long-dominated by Washington. But Moscow s latest statements have emphasised its own role as complementing other international efforts, lining up behind the main Washington-led initiatives. Ivanov said Moscow and Washington were in step on the Middle East.