Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow with Saudi Intelligence Chief Prince Bandar Bin Sultan on Wednesday, Itar Tass news agency reported.
“A broad range of issues in bilateral relations, the situation in the Middle East and North Africa have been discussed,” Russian President’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov was quoted as telling reporters.
Peskov reportedly gave no specific details about the talks in the Russian capital, which come amid strained relations between Moscow and Riyadh over the conflict in Syria, Hezbollah’s Al Manar TV reported on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia has been strongly supportive of the rebels battling the forces loyal to the embattled president Bashar al Asad . On the hand Russia, which is the largest arms supplier to Syria has been Assad’s key ally against the rebels who are trying to topple the regime . Russia’s continued support for the Syrian regime has infuriated Saudi Arabia and its Western allies.
Prince Bandar , who served in Washington from 1983 to 2005 and who was named Saudi intelligence chief about a year ago has also been serving as Secretary-General of Saudi Arabia’s National Security Council since October 16, 2005. During his tenure in Washington, Prince Bandar was considered the most influential Middle East envoy served as the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.
He is the son of the late Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, who died in 2011.
Photo: File photo of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (R) and Secretary General of Saudi Arabia’s National Security Council Prince Bandar Bin Sultan during their meeting in Moscow, in August 2007. AFP PHOTO
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