Putin begins a historic visit to the Middle East from Egypt
Egypt-Russia, Politics, 4/27/2005

The Russian President Vladimir Putin started on Tuesday his first tour on the Middle East since he assumed presidency in 2000. Putin starts his historical visit with Egypt to be the first Russian president to visit it in more than 40 years, when it was visited by the President of the former Soviet Union Khoroshov in 1964.

After Egypt, Putin will head to Israel today,Wednesday, to hold talks with the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon before he will conclude his tour on the Palestinian territories tomorrow by meeting with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramullah.

Analysists consider that Putin's visit is part of Russia's efforts to restore back the influence it used to enjoy during the Soviet era in the region and the attempt to reconfirm its role, though Russian press sources did not expect the occurrence of a qualitative leap in the relations between the countries of the region and Moscow.

In Cairo, which used to be considered in the past a close alley to Moscow, the talks agenda of the Russian President with his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak concentrate on reviving the peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis as well as discussing conditions in Iraq, Lebanon and Syria.

The Russian Itar-Tass quoted the advisor for the Russian President for the foreign policy Sergy Breikhodko saying that Putin will also discuss the proposals to reform the UN as well as likely weapons deals including aviation instruments and air defense missile systems.

The advisor indicated that the talks will also deal with the question of Russia's joining the world trade organization and the tourism sector and trade and economic cooperation. Trade exchange between the two sides reached 834 million dollars in 2004.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Akhbar: Mubarak-Putin summit enhances bilateral relations   (4/26/2005)
  Nazif calls for benefiting from Russian technology   (4/7/2005)
  Sherif receives Russian PM   (12/1/2004)

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