The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
“We are certain that further strengthening of relations will have a positive effect on strengthening stability and security in the world,” his Saudi counterpart Jubeir stressed.
Fyodor Lukyanov, the Kremlin-connected chairman of the Council on Foreign and Defence Policy, said Riyadh saw closer ties with Moscow as expedient for the moment, and was “diversifying risks” by buying arms from both Moscow and the US.
“Saudi Arabia has recognised Russia as a significant player in a region that is important to it,” he told AFP.
“They respect Russia more now. But you shouldn’t think it’s forever.”
– Oil cap for ‘stability’ –
The leaders of the world’s largest energy exporters also discussed the OPEC agreement to cap oil output.
OPEC members have joined with Russia and other countries in cutting crude output in a pact that has helped prop up prices.
“We strive to continue the positive cooperation between our countries to achieve stability on world oil markets which promotes the growth of the world’s economy,” Salman said.
Russia and Saudi Arabia are heavily dependent on oil exports and the global plunge of the price of crude that began in 2014 lashed both their economies.
Putin said on Wednesday it was possible to extend an OPEC deal to cap oil output “at least until the end of 2018”.
– Focus on Syria, Yemen –
While Russia and Saudi Arabia are partners on the oil market, they are at loggerheads on Syria, where Moscow supports President Bashar al-Assad and Riyadh backs the opposition.
Lavrov said the Saudi monarch and Putin’s meeting saw a “particular focus on Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen.”
The two sides said they had common ground in a desire to rally Syrian opposition forces to take part in UN-backed peace talks.
Jubeir said that the countries “closely cooperate… on uniting the Syrian opposition and broadening its framework, in order to start the political process” at Geneva peace talks.
