RAMALLAH, West Bank - The Palestinians Wednesday welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin's plan for a Middle East peace conference, voicing hope that it will lead to progress in the troubled roadmap peace plan.
"We in the Palestinian Authority welcome this conference as an opportunity for the rapid implementation of the roadmap and to move forward to final status negotiations with the Israeli side," deputy prime minister Nabil Shaath told AFP.
"We appreciate the Russian position and Abu Mazen will confirm this in his meeting with President Putin in Ramallah on Friday," Shaath added.
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, is due to hold talks with Putin in the West Bank after the Russian president meets with leaders in Israel.
After a meeting in Cairo Wednesday with Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak, Putin unveiled his plan for an international conference later this year.
Russia is, along with the United States, the European Union and the United Nations, one of the four sponsors of the roadmap peace plan, a phased blueprint which targets the creation of a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.
The plan has however made next to no progress since its launch two years ago amid mutual accusations by the Israelis and Palestinians that the other side is not honouring its obligations under the blueprint.
04/27/2005 14:40 GMT