New York - Russia, which took over the presidency of the UN Security Council in May, called Monday for a debate on the Middle East with the intention to foster a "new impetus" for peace prospects in the region.

"The main objective is to give, through the United Nations, a new impetus to peace in the Middle East," Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said in presenting the monthly programme of work of the 15-nation council.

The debate will be held on May 11 under the presidency of Russian Foreign Mininster Sergey Lavrov.

But Churkin said Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Arab states will not be invited to address the one-day debate at UN headquarters in New York. He said only the 15 council members and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will be allowed to speak.

The council has been debating the situation in Israel-Palestinian conflict on a monthly basis with the attendance of non-council members.

The debate on May 11, under Russian presidency, was called when the new Israeli government under hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to support the two-state solution as part of the resolution of the conflict, which called for the establishment of a Palestine state living in peace next to Israel.

Churkin said the debate would end with a statement from the council president, but he provided no details about its contents. (dpa)