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Russia to host ME multilateral talks

MOSCOW: Russia will host the first multilateral Middle East talks in more than three years on Tuesday in a move intended to underline Moscow's push for a bigger role in the strategically important region.

Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will jointly chair the talks, which bring together representatives from Israel, a string of Arab states and donor countries including Japan and the European Union.

The steering committee's talks, held at foreign minister level, will focus on cross-border issues like arms control, the environment, water, refugees and economic cooperation.

But setbacks in Syrian-Israeli talks and very slow progress on the Israeli-Palestinian track have clouded hopes that the one-day Moscow meeting will achieve anything substantial.

Syria's decision to stay away from the talks has underscored Moscow's loss of influence over a key Soviet-era ally. Syria's client Lebanon also plans to skip the meeting.

Both countries say it is pointless to discuss regional cooperation without making peace with Israel first. Moscow sent out its invitations earlier this month just before the recently resumed Syrian-Israeli talks were suspended.

Russia, a co-sponsor with the United States of the Middle East peace talks launched in Madrid in 1991, seems unfazed by Syria's no-show and is determined to show it remains a respected player in the region despite its economic woes.

The talks also give Moscow an opportunity to reassure traditionally friendly Arab countries about its four-month military campaign against Muslim militants in Chechnya.-Reuters