Abdullah, Putin Talk Mideast

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 22, 2001

Abdullah, Putin Talk Mideast

The crisis in the Middle East and the international anti-terrorist campaign topped the agenda Wednesday for President Vladimir Putin and Jordanian King Abdullah II, who was visiting Moscow for the second time in three months.

"We know about your efforts to regulate the Middle East conflict ... and we are very interested in hearing your point of view on the development of the situation and future prospects, especially after my return from the United States, where I discussed this matter in detail with President Bush," Putin said as he welcomed the king to his Kremlin office.

King Abdullah arrived in Moscow late Tuesday night and was to return home shortly after his meeting with Putin. In additional to regional and international security issues, the two leaders were expected to discuss ways to boost bilateral trade and military cooperation.

"I am delighted to have the opportunity not only to see you but to discuss bilateral and regional concerns," King Abdullah said.

During his August visit, King Abdullah discussed closer military cooperation with Russia, though no specific deals were announced. Jordan's 120,000-strong army is partially equipped with Soviet-designed air defense systems, tanks and machine guns bought by Abdullah's late father, King Hussein, in the early 1980s.

The king has been trying to bring the Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table. While Moscow's role in Mideast peacemaking is smaller than the United States', it, too, has tried to use its ties with both Israel and the Arab world to promote peace in the region.

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