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Medvedev takes part in condolences ceremony over death of Saudi King Abdullah

During the ceremony, the Russian prime minister had an opportunity to exchange a couple of words with leaders of delegations from a number of countries

© EPA/SAUDI PRESS AGENCY

RIYADH, January 24. /TASS/. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who arrived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday to pay last respects to King Abdullah who died on Friday at the age of 90, tokk part in the ceremony of condolences.

On behalf of the Russian people and President Vladimir Putin, he expressed condolences to Saudi’s new King Salman and reassured him that Russian-Saudi relations would continue to be friendly. The King thanked the Russian prime minister and said in turn that relations between the two countries would develop with continuity.

Dmitry Medvedev and Kinf Salman also touched upon issues of bilateral cooperations.

During the ceremony, the Russian prime minister had an opportunity to exchange a couple of words with leaders of delegations from a number of countries. Thus, Medvedev briefly spoke with the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, and British Prime Minister David Cameron, and with German President Joachim Gauck. He also spoke with heads of delegations from a number of countries of the Middle East, in particular, from Lebanon and Qatar.

Russian Minister of Energy Alexander Novak, who came to Riyadh as member of the Russian delegation, had talks with Saudi’s Deputy Minister of Petroleum Abdulaziz bin Salman, the King’s son.

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