MOSCOW, December 28. /TASS/. Russian Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov received copies of credentials from the new Israeli Ambassador to Moscow Simona Halperin. The sides discussed the settlement in the Middle East.

"On December 28, Mikhail Bogdanov received the appointed Ambassador of the State of Israel to Moscow Simona Halperin, who presented the copies of her credentials," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "The sides had an in-depth exchange of opinions on the topic of the Middle East settlement."

The Ministry noted that, during the meeting, the sides paid special attention to the ongoing issues of further gradual development of Russian-Israeli relations.

"The sides noted the importance of further active communication on all tracks of bilateral cooperation, including via the foreign ministries of the two states," the Russian ministry said.

Halperin was born in 1969 in Riga; she lived in Leningrad until 1976. She has been serving as an Israeli official since 1993.