JERUSALEM, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak Sunday called on Russia to play a positive role in the Middle East peace process instead of providing weapons system which could destabilize the region, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

    Barak made the remarks during a meeting in Jerusalem with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who is now in the Middle East for talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials.

    The two discussed the sale of various weapon systems to Iran and Syria, as well as the global financial crisis, said the report, adding that they also discussed various political and security issues pertaining to the Middle East.

    Barak, meanwhile, urged Kouchner to use France's influence in Lebanon to curb Hezbollah's attempt of rearmament, and to push for an independent Lebanese government free of what he called "negative exterior influence."

    Barak made the remarks one day before Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's scheduled official visit to Russia.

    Olmert is expected to focus on Russia's sale of antiaircraft missiles to Iran during his Monday visit, pointing out to the Russian leaders Israel's opposition to any missile deal with Iran, local daily Ha'aretz reported earlier Sunday.

    A senior Israeli official said on condition of anonymity that Olmert's visit is "focused on the security issue" and he will raise the topic of the missiles during his three meetings with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

    Olmert is expected to emphasize that the missile sale would "upset the military strategic balance in the Middle East," and warn Moscow of the danger of the missile system being transferred to Iranian military ally Syria, added the official.