UAE, Russia Ink Several MoUs, Agreements during Putin Visit 

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan pose for a photo during the official welcome ceremony in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan pose for a photo during the official welcome ceremony in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
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UAE, Russia Ink Several MoUs, Agreements during Putin Visit 

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan pose for a photo during the official welcome ceremony in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan pose for a photo during the official welcome ceremony in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

The United Arab Emirates and Russia have signed agreements and MoUs on investment and the environment to develop the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) said that it has agreed to sell a stake in the Ghasha gas project to Lukoil, and also signed a strategic framework agreement with Gazprom Neft on upstream, downstream and technology cooperation.

The agreements were signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the UAE.

The Russian and UAE energy ministries also signed an MoU that envisages creating a working group on energy that will develop concrete proposals for joint energy projects.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that promising areas for cooperation between Russia and the UAE include LNG and nuclear and electric power, according to a ministry statement.

More so, the sovereign funds of Russia and the UAE are expected to sign 10 investment deals worth over 1.3 billion US dollars.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said Tuesday that the deals with its UAE counterpart, Mubadala Investment Company, will cover areas such as high technology, healthcare, oil and gas, logistics, industrial production, and artificial intelligence.

During Putin's visit, the two sovereign funds will also organize a meeting of business leaders from the two countries on expanding cooperation and implementing joint projects and prepare an exhibition on investment cooperation, the RDIF said in a statement.

During six years of successful cooperation between the two sides, investments worth more than 2 billion dollars have been made and approved for more than 45 projects, it added.

Russia and the UAE are successfully developing partnerships in trade, energy, industry, tourism, and even in specialized fields such as training astronauts, the statement quoted RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev as saying.

Hazza Al Mansouri became the first UAE astronaut to take part in a mission at the International Space Station (ISS) from Sept. 25 to Oct. 3.



Saudi Arabia, Egypt Stress Need for Immediate Ceasefire in Lebanon, Gaza

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in August. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in August. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Egypt Stress Need for Immediate Ceasefire in Lebanon, Gaza

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in August. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in August. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia and Egypt stressed on Friday the need for an “immediate and permanent ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza.”

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah held telephone talks with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty to discuss the situation in Lebanon and the Israeli escalation in the region, given the ongoing coordination and cooperation between Riyadh and Cairo.

An Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman said the FMs condemned the Israeli assault on Lebanon that has left hundreds dead and wounded.

He stressed Saudi Arabia and Egypt’s “full solidarity with Lebanon and its brotherly people during this crisis.”

They underlined the importance of offering all forms of humanitarian assistance to the people and enabling the state and all of its institutions to perform their duties and impose its sovereignty throughout the country.

The FMs expressed their categorical rejection of any measures that may impact Lebanon’s sovereignty across its territories.

Moreover, they warned that the prolongation of the escalation may have consequences on the people of the region.

Prince Faisal and Abdelatty called for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 by all concerned parties.

Furthermore, the FMs called on the international community, especially the Security Council, to assume its responsibilities in reaching an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt will continue to coordinate to address the dangers in the Arab region caused by the Israeli assault against the Lebanese and Palestinian people.