MOSCOW. Aug 18 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Palestinian National Authority President Mahmud Abbas held a telephone conversation, initiated by the Palestinian side on Thursday.
Abbas informed Putin about the situation in the Middle East, where Israeli settlers are being withdrawn from the Gaza Strip, the presidential press service told Interfax.
"Putin said he was pleased to hear that Palestine and Israel are engaged in a permanent dialog, which assists the solution of emerging problems and thus helps the process of peaceful settlement. He highly appreciated President Abbas' appeal to the Palestinian people not to respond to provocations and to keep calm," the presidential press service said.
Russia has played an important role in Middle-East settlement, Abbas said.
"Practical aspects of providing foreign aid to the Palestinian National Authority, including Russian plans, were discussed during the conversation," the press service said.