PUTIN EMBARKS ON A STRATEGIC TOUR
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Gulf region seeking to defuse regional tensions and promote development with UAE’s help.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has lauded ties with the UAE and Saudi Arabia ahead of his tour of both countries this week.
“We look at the United Arab Emirates as one of our promising and very close partners,” Putin said in an interview with Saudi television Al Arabiya aired yesterday.
“Last year, we signed a declaration on strategic partnership and cooperation,” he said.
“I won’t disclose a big secret if I say that I am in a constant contact with the UAE leadership.”
Putin pointed to a $7 billion (Dh25.7 billion) joint investment fund with the UAE, two billion of which is already invested in some projects.
“The UAE is playing an important role in solving the region’s crises and playing without any exaggeration a role in enhancing stability.”
Putin visits Saudi Arabia today and the UAE tomorrow for talks with their leaders expected to focus on promoting ties and discussing regional problems.
Economic cooperation
In the interview Putin said Russian-Saudi economic cooperation grew by 38 per cent in the first half of this year. “We are studying good joint projects. Our direct investment fund and the General Saudi Investment Fund have laid a joint base of $10 billion,” Putin said.
He disclosed that a Russian firm is considering the possibility of building a petrochemical complex costing over $1 billion in Saudi Arabia. “There are also relations in technical military cooperation. We have been negotiating this for a long time,” Putin said, without giving details.
He hailed his relations with Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad. “I am sure that my visit will give a fresh impetus to develop our ties and cooperation on the international arena.”
He described Saudi Arabia as a regional and global player, mainly in the world energy market.
Aramco attacks condemned
Condemning last month’s attack on Saudi oil facilities, he said he had talked to the Saudi heir apparent and told him about the necessity of providing evidence about the culprits.
Saudi Arabia and the US have blamed Iran for the September 14 attack, which disrupted the kingdom’s oil production.
“We are ready to help conduct a thorough investigation into the incident,” he said.
“Regardless of who stood behind this incident, we condemn these kinds of acts. If anyone believes that acts such as seizing tankers, attacking oil infrastructures will affect the cooperation between Russia and our Arab friends — Saudi Arabia and the UAE — they are all mistaken. Our aim is to stabilise the global energy market. We’ll work with Saudi Arabia and other partners and friends in the Arab world in order to neutralise and minimise attempts to destabilise the market ”
Regional forum needed
Putin referred to a Russian proposal to set up an organisation composed of the Gulf countries, the US and the Europe to act as a forum to discuss regional crises.
He pledged that Russia will use its “good ties” with Iran and Arab countries to defuse regional tensions.
Putin said that without Saudi and UAE support, Russian-led efforts to stabilise Syria would not have been possible.
Optimism on Syria
Russia’s military interference in Syria was to fight “terrorist organisations” and support the “legitimate government” there.
He sounded optimistic about Syria’s peace process, with a recent agreement on the formation of a committee to draft a new constitution for the war-torn country.
“Today many [Syrians] are returning to their homes. This is an obvious sign that people trust guarantees offered by the state.”