Russian envoy offers to help forge prisoners deal

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Viktor Posuvalyuk on Friday said his country wished to help in negotiations to exchange the remains of an Israeli soldier killed in south Lebanon for Lebanese guerrillas imprisoned by Israel.

Posuvalyuk, who was recently named as Russia's special envoy to the Middle East, met with Hizbullah's secretary general Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah upon arrival in Beirut from Damascus.

Hizbullah, along with the Lebanese government, have been negotiating through a representative from the International Red Cross, for the exchange.

The exchange would involve the return of remains of an Israeli soldier killed in a botched September 5 commando raid in south Lebanon in return for Lebanese prisoners in Israeli jails.

Commenting on the deal, Posuvalyuk later said it was a "very sensitive" issue. He added, however, that his country "understood the humanitarian nature" of the deal and said Russia wished to help in any way it could.

The Russian envoy said he also discussed with Nasrallah the security situation in south Lebanon. "We as a Russian party, aim through our contacts and relationship with Hizbullah leaders at decreasing tensions in south Lebanon," he said.

Russia, however, had no interest in joining a five-nation cease-fire monitoring committee in south Lebanon. The committee comprises members from the United States, France, Israel, Syria and Lebanon and has the difficult task of keeping violence in the volatile region of south Lebanon in check.

"Russia is willing to help in any way it can, but not through the committee. We will find other ways," Posuvalyuk said.

He also met with Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and the secretary-general of the Foreign Ministry, Zafer al-Hassan.

Posuvalyuk said discussions focused on ways to revive the Middle East peace talks between Israel and the Arabs and the situation in the region.