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Jordan talks conclude Putin tour | |
(about 22 hours later) | |
Russian President Vladimir Putin and King Abdullah II of Jordan have held talks in Amman on ways of reviving the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. | |
They also discussed the recent agreement between Palestinian factions to form a national unity government. | |
The tensions over Iran's nuclear programme and the violence in Iraq were also on the agenda for discussions. | |
Mr Putin, on the last leg of a Mid-East tour, was also to meet Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Amman. | |
President Putin was greeted by King Abdullah at Amman's hilltop Basman Palace and inspected a guard of honour. | |
Mr Putin said Russia wanted to play its part in the peace process. | |
"We are constantly in contact, exchanging views on the developments in the region and, obviously, on the most acute problem of the Palestinian-Israeli settlement," he said. | |
Mr Putin arrived in Jordan after visiting Qatar and Saudi Arabia. | |
Analysts say his visit comes amid signs that Russia is seeking to reinvigorate its contacts in the Middle East. | |
Historic visit | Historic visit |
Jordan's chief government spokesman, Nasser Judeh, said Mr Putin's visit was "very important and welcomed". | Jordan's chief government spokesman, Nasser Judeh, said Mr Putin's visit was "very important and welcomed". |
"Russia is an important member of the Quartet and a country that has every interest in seeing a revival of the peace process and a permanent peace settlement in the Middle East," he said. | "Russia is an important member of the Quartet and a country that has every interest in seeing a revival of the peace process and a permanent peace settlement in the Middle East," he said. |
Mr Putin arrived in Jordan after a brief visit to QatarThe Quartet of Middle East mediators comprises the EU, the UN, the US and Russia. | |
Jordan has been working to restart the stalled peace process and on Monday the Jordanian king met Mr Abbas for talks. | Jordan has been working to restart the stalled peace process and on Monday the Jordanian king met Mr Abbas for talks. |
As well as the Israeli-Palestinian issue, Mr Putin was also expected to discuss energy and economic ties with Jordanian officials. | |
In Qatar, he held talks with Emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and in Saudi Arabia, the first visit to the country by a Russian head of state, Mr Putin met Saudi King Abdullah. | In Qatar, he held talks with Emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and in Saudi Arabia, the first visit to the country by a Russian head of state, Mr Putin met Saudi King Abdullah. |
The BBC's Russian affairs analyst Steven Eke says that Mr Putin's tour of these pro-western Middle Eastern nations comes at a time when Moscow's disillusionment with the West is growing. | The BBC's Russian affairs analyst Steven Eke says that Mr Putin's tour of these pro-western Middle Eastern nations comes at a time when Moscow's disillusionment with the West is growing. |
Last weekend, at a prestigious European security conference, the Russian president launched a broadside against American foreign policy, accusing Washington of unilateralism. | Last weekend, at a prestigious European security conference, the Russian president launched a broadside against American foreign policy, accusing Washington of unilateralism. |
This, our correspondent says, has led some Russian commentators to suggest Mr Putin is challenging - or at least, intends to challenge - America's influence in the Middle East. | This, our correspondent says, has led some Russian commentators to suggest Mr Putin is challenging - or at least, intends to challenge - America's influence in the Middle East. |
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