Mideastern situation to be discussed in Moscow with Saudi Crown Prince

The situation in Iraq and the Middle East will be discussed during a visit to Moscow by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdallah ibn Abd al-Aziz al-Saud.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov has said this in an interview with the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadh. The prince is to come to Russia in the beginning of September.

"The visit will offer an opportunity for in-depth exchange of opinions on the post-war Iraq, with focus on a more efficient use of the United Nations' mechanisms in the process. This goes for post-crisis restoration of the Persian Gulf area above all in the context of forming a regional security and co-operation system there as well as the strengthening of our interaction with the Council for Co-operation between Arab Gulf nations," explained the Russian deputy foreign minister.

According to him, the situation on Palestinian lands will also be considered at the upcoming talks. "We stress the importance of securing further operation of the roadmap plan, further efforts of the four international intermediaries -Russia, the United States, the European Union, the United Nations - and other countries", said Saltanov.

Commenting on the Arab peace initiative put forward by the Saudi Crown Prince, Saltanov said that Moscow viewed his idea as an inalienable part of the international-legal base for the Middle Eastern settlement. "This initiative seeks, above all, the normal relations with Israel in case it leaves the occupied lands. It can then be said that it is in the same policy line as the roadmap," explained Saltanov. "Here, the efforts made by Russia and other Arab states in support of the attainment of a comprehensive Middle Eastern settlement are mutually complementary", added Saltanov.