(AGI) Moscow, Apr 13 - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas willmeet Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Monday, during anofficial visit which analysts say will serve to confirmRussia's balanced attitude to Middle East conflicts, and itsurge to play a mediation role. Abbas arrived on Sunday and willstay until April 15. The Russian official press agency reportedthat the key meeting is the one with President Putin, where theagenda will cover the Israel-Palestine Peace Process and theMiddle East/North Africa situation, with special concern forSyria, Iraq and Yemen. During his visit, Abbas will also meetPrime Minister Dmitri Medvedev, the Orthodox Patriarch Kirilland the head of the Mufti Council of Russia, Ravil Gainutdin.The overall purpose of the visit embraces issues of economicand business expansion, as well as humanitarian and culturalcooperation. Interfax news agency anticipates the signing ofagreements. Despite close links with Israel, Russia cooperatesactively with the Palestinian National Authority, within theframework of policies which seek to maintain a balanced stance.(Moscow has often criticised Israel's posture on thePalestinian situation.) According to analysts contacted by theMoscow Times, the Palestinian president's visit will help theKremlin develop as a mediator in crucial Middle East debates -a goal of Putin's in his building of Russia's internationalprestige. Abbas, who visited Russia for the first time in 2005,will return to the Russian hinterland. On Tuesday and Wednesdayhe will be in Sochi, where he is due to meet the administratorof the Krasnodar region. During his previous visits, Abbasvisited repeatedly the Russian republics with a Muslimmajority, like Chechnia, Dagestan, Tatarstan and Bashkortostan,as well as Saint Petersburg. (AGI).