MOSCOW, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Monday repeated his call on the new Israeli government to restart negotiations with the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

    He came to Russia "to exchange views on the possible ways to launch a political process," which has become very important afterthe formation of a new government in Israel, Abbas said at the start of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the president's residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

    "We expect the new Israeli government to start negotiations with us, because we are its partners and we believe in the possibility of a peace settlement," the Itar-Tass news agency quoted Abbas as saying.

    "Negotiations are the only way to settle the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis," he said.

    Israel has banned contacts with the PNA since the Palestinian government led by Hamas, which refused to renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist, was inaugurated on March 29.

    The new Israeli government, headed by Prime Minister and Kadimaparty chairman Ehud Olmert, was sworn in on May 4.

    The European Union (EU) and the United States have frozen aid to the Palestinian territories after Hamas, which is on the EU andU.S. lists of terrorist organizations, took power. Russia, however,sent 10 million U.S. dollars in emergency aid to the Palestinians earlier this month.

    Opening the talks, Putin said Russia has always been "a dependable and consistent friend" of the Palestinian people.

    The Palestinian leader thanked Putin for Russia's aid and said Palestinian officials are "exerting efforts to extricate the Palestinian people from the current grave economic crisis."

    "I am aware of your great efforts to normalize the situation inthe Palestine territories, to ensure their normal development in the future," Putin said. Enditem