MOSCOW (Islamweb & News Agencies) - King Abdullah of Jordan and Russian President Vladimir Putin called Tuesday for an end to the international isolation of Iraq, saying it would help stabilize the entire Middle East.
During 90 minutes of one-on-one talks in the Kremlin the two men also discussed spiraling intifadh confrontations between Israel and the Palestinians, whose 11-month revolt against occupation has seen more than 700 deaths. (Read photo caption below)
The talks were later expanded to include ministers and discussions on trade and investment.
Abdullah said he and Putin had agreed that a solution must be found to the ``tragic situation'' of the Iraqi people, now in the 11th year of U.N. sanctions imposed after Iraq invaded neighboring Kuwait in 1990.
But the king said ending Baghdad's international isolation also had a broader purpose: ``The establishment of a comprehensive regional security requires Iraq to come back into the fold of the community of states.''
Putin echoed those remarks, saying that only ''political-diplomatic'' efforts could resolve the long-running international standoff with Iraq over sanctions.
``Arab countries should play a strong and positive role in unblocking the situation as regards Iraq,'' Putin said. ``That would help stabilize the situation in the entire region.''
Russia frequently criticizes the no-fly zones which the United States and Britain enforce over northern and southern Iraq and has blocked British-sponsored ``smart sanctions'' designed to ease curbs on Iraq's civilian imports but tighten those on military-linked goods.
King Abdullah, who was later to travel to Putin's home town, St. Petersburg, said Russia's peacemaker role in the conflict between Palestinians and Israel was ``greatly appreciated.''
Russia is a co-sponsor with the United States of the moribund Palestinian-Israeli peace process, but has played second fiddle to Washington.
Putin urged both sides to implement the peace blueprint drawn up by a panel headed by former U.S. Senator George Mitchell. It provides for a truce, a cooling off period, confidence-building measures and renewed peace talks.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Jordan's King Abdullah II smile as they shake hands in Moscow's Kremlin, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2001. King Abdullah II, seeking a larger Russian role in the Middle East peace process, met with President Putin in the Kremlin for talks on the Palestinian uprising agaisnt Israeli occupation in the territories and on trade and military cooperation. (AP Photo/ ITAR-TASS/ Presidential Press Service)
- Aug 28 7:49 AM ET