Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert held talks in Moscow on Thursday, focusing on Middle East and the Iran situation, news agencies reported.

 

"We know how much you worry about the situation around Iran's nuclear program ... I am ready to share with you the results of my visit to Tehran," Putin told Olmert at the Kremlin.

 

He appreciated Olmert's efforts in settling the Palestinian-Israeli conflict "We know how much effort you personally make to reach progress in that work ... We also know how difficult it is for you to do it for considerations of internal policy," he said.

 

The two leaders also discussed cooperation between Russia and Israel, pledging to further such cooperation. "Relations between Russia and Israel develop both in political and economic spheres," Putin said.

 

Olmert was here for a short working visit, which was expected to also focus on an upcoming international meeting on the Middle East settlement in Annapolis, the US.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2007)