Dmitry Medvedev is scheduled to arrive late on Monday for his first to Syria, once one of the former Soviet Union's closest allies in the Middle East. He and Syrian President Bashar Assad are also expected to discuss Iran's nuclear program, military cooperation and developing economic relations.
The office of Israeli President Shimon Peres announced Sunday that Medvedev agreed to deliver an Israeli message to Assad. Peres and Medvedev met in Moscow recently during the annual commemoration ceremony marking the end of World War II.
Peres said Israel wants peace with Syria but that it must stop alleged weapons transfers to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Peres recently accused Syria of transferring Scud missiles to Hezbollah, a claim Damascus denies.
Medvedev will address the rising tensions between Syria and Israel on the heels of the Israeli Scud accusations.
The Russian leader was quoted Monday by the private Syrian daily Al-Watan as saying that his country was making serious efforts to help restart Arab-Israeli negotiations.
Medvedev said there should be a collective search for new ways to face "comprehensive dangers and challenges." His visit to Syria comes a day after a tripartite summit in Turkey between Assad, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Talks between the three leaders focused on recent tensions in the Middle East.
Assad said Saturday in Turkey that Syria was still working for progress to reach peace with Israel, but said Israel doesn't appear to be a partner in the process.
"Even if there is one percent risk of a war, we are working to eliminate that," Assad said in response to a question over whether the two rivals could go to war over their conflicts.
Turkey, which mediated four rounds of indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel in 2008, also offered Saturday to help revive the stalled talks.
Syria and Russia are expected to sign a number of agreements during the visit, mainly in the fields of energy, education, health and trade.
Both countries have expressed desire to increase trade to $2 billion in 2010, from $1.5 billion currently.
The visit comes a few days after the renewal of US sanctions on Syria for its alleged support of terrorist groups.
Russian companies are seeking to participate in the construction of an oil refinery in the northeastern city of Deir Al-Zour, as well as reconstruction of an oil pipeline from the Kirkuk oil field in Iraq to the Syrian port of Banias, Medvedev said.
Syria was Moscow's strongest Mideast ally during the Cold War. The alliance largely waned after the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union, though Russia has continued some weapons sales to Damascus.
Assad visited Moscow in August 2008.
