Moscow/Tel Aviv - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is due in Moscow on Monday for sensitive talks on Iran's nuclear programme and Russian arms sales to Syria, as Moscow seeks to keep a role in Middle East peace process despite the diplomatic fallout over its war with Georgia. Olmert, who is making the visit despite his resignation two weeks ago amid corruption allegations, is set to meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday before flying home, the Kremlin press service said.
Israel's Yediot Ahronot Ahronot daily said the Kremlin had invited Olmert for the sake of balance after having hosted Syrian President Bashar Assad and King Abdullah of Jordan.
Moscow's relations with Tel Aviv have become tense as Russia accused Israel of selling spy drones to Georgia used against it in for reconnaissance in the August conflict.
Israel ordered a ban on arms sales to Georgia last month, according to Russian media reports, out of fear that Moscow may retaliate by selling higher grade weapons to its foes, such as Syria, in the Middle East.
In the talks, Olmert is expected to pressure Russia against selling high-grade S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Syria and Iran and to improve checks that current arms shipments do not go to Hezbollah guerrillas, who battled Israel in Lebanon in 2006.
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday slammed Russia's weapons sales to countries in the Middle East,saying it undermined the regional balance.
"The Russians should play a positive role in the Middle East and not provide weapons systems that harm the delicate balance in the region," he said at a meeting with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.
Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport told the news agency Itar-Tass it did not know of rumoured plans to sell the state- of-the-art missile systems to Tehran and Damascus.
Olmert will also confront Russia on its cooperation in building and delivering uranium for Iran's first nuclear power plant, Yediot said, citing a source involved in the trip's organisation.
Israel and the United States believe the Islamic states' nuclear programme is a cover for ambitions to build atomic weapons.
Russia, on the other hand, hopes to expands its role as one of the Quartet of international negotiators in Middle East peace talks.
Moscow has expressed ambitions to host a peace conference as a follow-up to the US-sponsored Annapolis conference last year.
