Russia, Saudi Arabia agrrement on oil pricing; UN role in Iraq; Abdullah: Chechenea incidents has no relevance to Islam

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and the Russian President Vladimir Putin have crowned yesterday the historical visit made by the Saudi official to Moscow in a joint statements which renewed the intention in the two oil powers to cooperate and "coordinate in oil policy."

Meantime, the political breakthrough of the visit was represented in the symbolic invitation addressed by the Saudi crown prince to Chechenea President Ahmad Qadrouf who is appointed by Moscow to visit Saudi Arabia. A matter which was explained as a sign of support from Saudi Arabia to Moscow in confrontation of Chechenea fighters.

In their statement, Russia and Saudi Arabia showed their readiness to "coordinate and cooperate in oil policy" and on preserving "an acceptable basket price" for each oil barrel. The two countries showed their preparedness to work altogether for "the stability of the world oil market."

Concerning Iraq, Moscow and Riyadh expressed their support for "enhancing the role played by the UN to settling the conflict." The statement said that "Russia and Saudi Arabia strongly support preserving Iraq's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity." Qadrouf said he had received an invitation to visit Saudi Arabia when he met with the Saudi crown prince during his visit to the headquarters of the Russian Cabinet on Wednesday. He stressed that Abdullah condemned what is taking place in Chechenea, noting that Chechenea fighting "has no relevance to Islam." Qadrouf expected to fulfill the invitation of Abdullah to visit Saudi Arabia following the elections in Chechenea Republic due on October 25th.

A Russian diplomat disclosed that the Saudi delegation showed Riyadh's support for a Russian demand to Moscow's joining the Organization of the Islamic conference as an observer. He said that a high ranking Russian official will shortly tour several major Muslim states to campaign for the Russian position. Abdullah's talks on Thursday included meetings in Kremlin with senior clergy at the Russian Orthodox church and senior Muslim clergymen.

Meantime, the Russian minister of energy Igor Yousevov stressed to his Saudi counterpart Ali al-Nueimi "we feel we are responsible for the stability of world (oil) prices," at a time when Moscow benefits, as a country which still outside OPEC, from the reduction of production shares in winning new customers and increasing its production.

The increase resulted in signing a cooperation agreement between the Saudi and Russian governments for five years in the area of energy. Russian and Saudi companies have laid joint projects especially in the area of gas and oil and helicopter manufacturing.