Russia and Italy have called for the resumption of direct peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Friday.
"In regard to international problems, we discussed issues related to the Middle East and expressed the desire that direct peace talks [between the Israelis and Palestinians] be resumed as soon as possible after the recent incident in the Gaza Strip," Berlusconi said after talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Milan.
Israel faced international condemnation after Israeli soldiers raided a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on May 31, killing nine activists.
The six-ship Freedom Flotilla was carrying 10,000 tons of aid to the troubled Gaza Strip.
Additionally, he and Medvedev discussed the situation in Afghanistan as well as G8 issues, Berlusconi said.
MILAN, July 23 (RIA Novosti)
