Russian President Vladimir Putin after talks Thursday with Egypt's Hosni Mubarak called for the Arab nation to be included in the so-called Quartet of Middle East peace negotiators, DPA reported. "We are united in the need to increase the efficacy of negotiators' efforts in the Middle East. The Quartet will gain if joined by influential regional forces, in which number we, of course, place Egypt," Putin said according to the Interfax news agency. The Quartet of Russia, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations drew up a multiphase plan for peace - known as the road map - to bring stability to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by 2005. The Russian leader added that his country would coordinate its own position in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process with Egypt. "It's important to note that the approaches of our countries to the solution of most tough problems coincide," Putin said, noting that also referred to Iran's uranium-enrichment programme and Iraq.
