Putin pleased with level of ties with Arab nations

MOSCOW, March 16 (KUNA) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday expressed satisfaction at the existing ties between his nation with Arab and Islamic states.
Putin, during a ceremonial reception of new ambassadors' credentials at the Kremlin, expressed support for the Iraqi Government's efforts aimed at confronting international terrorism and extremism, according to the Russian Television.
The president emphasized necessity of preserving Iraq's territorial sanctity and unity "with consideration to interests of all ethnic and religious communities" in the country.
On Moscow's ties with Doha, Qatar, Putin boasted of the level of the current relations between the Russian and Qatari leaderships, noting coordination at committees' level for holding some matches of the forthcoming World Cup, to be held in the two countries.
Moreover, Russia and Qatar are bonded with mutual interests in financial and investment realms, he said, also indicating at coordination between Moscow and Doha over pending regional issues, namely terrorism and resolving conflicts in the Middle East.
Russia, he says, attaches great concern for upgrading ties with Tunisia in the commercial, economic, military, technological and humanitarian fields, pledging to support the Tunisian government in fighting terrorism.
On Turkey, he affirmed ongoing coordination with Ankara on regional issues namely Syria. As to Afghanistan, he vowed to continue backing "this neighboring country." (end) as.rk