OREANDA-NEWS. April 7, 2011. Dmitry Medvedev and King Abdullah II reviewed the prospects for bilateral relations and current international issues, in particular ways to resolve the crisis in North Africa and the Middle East.

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PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Your Majesty, it is a great pleasure to welcome you to Moscow. I am very happy to see you again and have very enjoyable memories of my recent visit to Jordan.

Great many events have taken place in this relatively short time, events that are attracting the attention of the entire world and that have created numerous problems in North Africa and in the Arab world.

The Russian Federation and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan are very good partners and stay in close contact. Your brief but intense visit to our country is an opportunity for us to review the current situation in the Middle East, the Middle East peace process and its prospects. We must also touch base on bilateral agenda issues and discuss other current international issues.

Our country is committed to complying with all international resolutions, including the [UN] Security Council resolutions aimed at resolving the situation in Libya and in the Middle East, the Middle East peace settlement. We hope that, despite the very difficult, even dramatic start a number of countries have had this year, the crisis can be overcome, including with the mediation of the United Nations and other international bodies.

I would like to welcome you once again and say that you are always a gladly received guest in our country.

KING ABDULLAH II OF JORDAN (re-translated): Mr President, thank you for the opportunity to meet with you.
I remember your January visit, during which we pledged to strengthen various aspects of our relations. I would be happy to discuss all areas of our cooperation, as well as the challenges we face, especially in our part of the world.

We are aware of Russia’s careful attention to the peaceful reforms currently being implemented in our country, as well as the importance of economic issues in the bilateral relations. We understand the role Russia plays in the world today, particularly the attention you pay to the peace processes, and we are aware of your positive contribution to these processes. We want to strengthen our relations with Russia and to do everything possible to bring Israel and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table, and strengthen and stabilise the situation in the region.

Mr President, I would like to thank you for the hospitality you have extended to Jordan, and for the opportunity to meet with you and discuss our relations.