Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to support new Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

"There are two approaches -- you can pressure Abbas or you can support him. I believe that you (Israel) prefers to press him. The Arab world tells me that Israel is not fulfilling its promises to assist Abbas. Pressure on him will damage Israel and the Palestinians," he warned.

Putin told Sharon he was prepared to help Abbas but not at the cost of Jewish lives.

Putin also urged the Palestinian leadership to dismantle militant groups.

"Without the Palestinians meeting all their commitments, there will never be diplomatic progress," Putin said. As for the peace meeting proposal cold-shouldered by Israel, Putin tried to play down his offer made Wednesday during his stop in Cairo.

"We wanted to suggest a professional meeting of experts to advance the process and in any case, I did not mean a forum without Israeli participation," Putin said.

Sharon told Putin that an international summit will only take place during the second stage of the implementation of the roadmap and no earlier.

The Russian president is scheduled to leave Israel Friday and head for the West Bank city of Ramallah where he will meet with PNA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and visit Yasser Arafat's grave.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2005)