国际英语新闻：Russia, U.S. discuss Mideast peace process

MOSCOW, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russia and the United States discussed the situation around planned direct Israeli-Palestinian talks, RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday.

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov met U.S. special envoy for Middle East George Mitchell by his request, Russian Foreign Ministry's website reported.

Mitchell expressed his gratitude for Russia's meaningful efforts to restore substantive dialogue between Israel and Palestinian national administration.

He stressed that the U.S. would continue to cooperate with Russia in reviving Middle East peace process in a Mideast "quarter " frames as well as on a bilateral basis.

In turn, Saltanov noted that Moscow would contribute to comprehensive peace in the Middle East and solution of the centerpiece of Arab-Israeli problem as well as Palestinian question.

He pointed out the importance of the sides to restrain from unilateral actions.

Last Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton invited the heads of Israel and Palestine to resume peace talks in Washington on Sept. 2. The negotiations was interrupted in December 2008 after Israel's military operation in the Gaza strip.