MOSCOW, February 12 (RIA Novosti) - President Vladimir Putin, who is currently in Saudi Arabia on the first trip by a Russian leader to the kingdom, will visit Qatar Monday, a presidential aide said.

He will pay a return visit at the invitation of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, who was in Moscow in 2001, Sergei Prikhodko said.

"The visit by Putin to Qatar is, first of all, a demonstration of our attention and respect," Prikhodko said.

The Russian president is expected to discuss the main aspects of the Mideast situation, including the Arab-Israeli conflict, the situation in Iraq and the Iranian nuclear program, Prikhodko said.

"Russia highly values the energetic role of Qatar, currently a UN Security Council non-permanent member, in regional and international affairs, its constructive contribution to solving acute Mideast problems and holding a dialogue between civilizations," the presidential aide said.

Prikhodko also said the Russian president will discuss bilateral cooperation in the fuel and energy and gas sectors.

At the same time, Prikhodko said the parties will not discuss the issue of establishing a gas equivalent of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), an idea that was proposed by Iran.