Abbas: Moscow to host int'l conference on Mideast in June

MOSCOW, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Moscow will host an international conference on the Middle East in June, visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday.

Speaking at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Abbas expressed hope that the conference would take place as scheduled and would "save the peace process."

"We attach great significance to, and are pinning our hopes on, promoting the peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis, on the call for beginning a comprehensive process of establishing peace in the Middle East, including in the Syrian and Lebanese directions," he said.

Abbas arrived here Wednesday on a three-day working visit. He is expected to hold talks Friday with outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin on the situation in the Palestinian territories and the Middle East in general.