DAMMAM, 19 August 2003 — Russia believes that the forthcoming visit of Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, to the Russian Federation will usher in a new era in relations between the two countries and give a major boost to Saudi-Russian trade. Russian relations with OPEC are also expected to get a fillip by the visit.
Russia also confirmed that it will play a role in Iraq and called for proper security arrangements for the sake of the war-torn country and world peace. Russia also confirmed that it would continue to support the Iranian nuclear program provided the country meets International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regulations.
These issues emerged during an interview with the Russian Ambassador to the Kingdom, Dr. Andrei Baklanov.
“The Crown Prince’s trip is the first visit to Russia at such a high level in history,” Baklanov told Arab News.
He said relations between Saudi Arabia and Russia had been growing rapidly in recent years, fostering a new climate of better understanding. “We are optimistic that this meeting will create a positive atmosphere to achieve goals that will benefit both countries,” he added.
Baklanov said the Saudi and Russian governments would sign a number of conventions in the economic, scientific and educational fields. “The economic agreement will include investments, and a trade tariff between the two countries. Special emphasis will be on the gas and oil industry,” he added.
Earlier, a Russian source said Saudi Arabia and Russia would sign next month a landmark energy accord in the petroleum and gas sector. The volume of trade between the two countries reaches nearly $130 million a year. But the Russian Ambassador said it would exceed that figure as a result of stronger relations and the new accords. “The talks will focus on issues which will enhance the opportunities for closer relations and give a boost to trade,” he said.
Several delegations from both sides have exchanged visits in the recent past. A Saudi delegation headed by Abdul Rahman Al-Jeraisy, chairman of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, recently visited Russia to explore investment opportunities there. The Russian envoy said Russian companies were keen to enter the Saudi market, especially in the field of oil and gas sectors.
Russia now has much stronger contacts with OPEC, Baklanov said. “We are working with the Saudi government and other members of OPEC on oil prices so that they satisfy the producing and consuming countries both,” he said.
The ambassador said Russia and Saudi Arabia shared a vision that the situation in the world energy market should be balanced, practicable and harmonized for the benefit of the world economy.
Baklanov praised the efforts of the two countries in fighting terrorism. “The campaign against it has been intensified, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Saudi government against this new kind of warfare.” He said the Iraqi crisis would top the agenda during talks between the crown prince and President Putin. The ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict will also be among major issues discussed during the talk.
The ambassador said Russia would continue playing its historical role in the Middle East crises as a permanent member of the Security Council. He emphasized the need for proper security in the area. “It will help the stability of the region, which automatically will reflect on the stability of the world, and now is the best time for it,” he added.
Russia is also ready to supply and help any state in the atomic sector as long as it sticks to International Atomic Energy Agency regulations, and as long as Russia makes sure that the facility serves only peaceful purposes.
“We stand with the world especially with the United State to prevent production of all kind of weapons of mass destruction,” he said.
