DAMASCUS, March 22 (News Agencies) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appealed Thursday for Russia to play an active role in the Middle East peace process, during a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the official SANA news agency reported.
The two leaders "examined the situation in the Middle East in light of the latest developments tied to the peace process, as well as Syria and Russia's bilateral relations," SANA said.
Assad "welcomed an active Russian role in the peace process since Russia is one of the peace process's sponsors," the agency said.
Putin affirmed Russia's commitment "to the peace process based on U.N. resolutions and the principles of the Madrid" peace conference, the breakthrough 1991 gathering between Arab and Israeli leaders that was co-sponsored by Russia and the United States, SANA said.
Syria enjoyed close ties with Moscow during the half-century-long Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Hobbled in the 1990s by economic woes after the fall of communism, Russia's influence in the Middle East has been eclipsed by the United States.
Putin, who has initiated friendly relations with Israel, is expected to visit the Jewish state in the second half of 2001.
Negotiations between Israel and Syria over the Golan Heights, captured by Israel in the June 1967 war, have been deadlocked since January 2000.
