MOSCOW, 21 April — Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, to visit his country.
The invitation was handed to Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal during his visit to Moscow last week.
Putin’s adviser for international affairs expected the visit to take place before the end of this year.
The Russian official hoped that Prince Abdullah’s upcoming visit to the United States would help resolve the present standoff in the Middle East and put an end to the cycle of violence in the region.
The presidential adviser denied any Russian plan to present an independent initiative to contain the escalating conflict.
“There is agreement between Riyadh and Moscow on the need to coordinate international efforts and activate the European role to bring the Palestinians and the Israelis back to the negotiating table,” he said.
Speaking to the Saudi Press Agency, the Russian official highlighted the significance of Prince Saud’s visit to Moscow and his meetings with President Putin.
“The meeting between Putin and Prince Saud lasted for more than two hours and covered the worsening situation in the Middle East as well as bilateral issues,” the official said.
Prince Saud, who left Moscow on Friday, said Saudi Arabia and Russia wanted immediate halt to the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people. He said the two countries had also agreed on sending an international peace force to the occupied Palestinian territories.
Meanwhile, Prince Abdullah, who is in the Moroccan city of Casablanca, yesterday received a message from Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi. The message was handed to the crown prince by Libyan Ambassador to Italy Abdul Aati Al-Obeidy.
