Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Mideast Envoy Alexander Sultanov (R) speaks to the media after meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mualem in Damascus, capital of Syria, July 19, 2009. Alexander Sultanov held talks with Walid Mualem on Sunday. (Xinhua/Gong Zhenxi) Photo Gallery>>>

    DAMASCUS, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Mideast envoy Alexander Sultanov on Sunday called on Israel to stop building all kinds of Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

    He made the appeal when meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem here on Sunday.

    After their talks, Sultanov told reporters that he and Moallem discussed the prospect of convening Moscow Mideast Peace Conference, bilateral relations, Mideast peace process and various regional issues.

    The stances of Russia and Syria are close on most regional and international issues, Sultanov said.

    On Saturday, the Russian deputy foreign minister met in Russian embassy with Khaled Meshaal, exiled chief of the Hamas movement.

    The two discussed the latest developments in Middle East region, Palestinian-Israeli conflicts as well as the reconciliation of Palestinian factions.

    The Russian diplomat urged the Palestinian leader to take national interests above all to "overcome the split and restore unity in Palestine as quickly as possible."

    To revitalize the long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Russia is planning to host an international peace conference on the Middle East in Moscow under the framework of the two-state solution by the end of this year.

    Before arriving in Syria on Friday, Sultanov has visited Egypt and Lebanon. His regional trip also includes Jordan, Palestinian territories and Israel to push forward the Moscow conference.