MOSCOW, October 21 (RIA Novosti) - President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin congratulated on Wednesday the Israeli premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, on his 60th birthday, a Kremlin spokesman said.

Medvedev reiterated Russia's intentions "to contribute actively to the settlement of a fair and solid peace in the Middle East on the basis of equal and safe security for all states and nations in the region."

Putin praised what he described as a "constructive and open dialogue" between the two countries.

"I am committed to enhancing further the cooperation between our countries' governments," the Russian premier said.