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Putin presents Order of Friendship to Prince Ghazi

Putin took part in the ceremony of opening the guesthouse for Russian Christian pilgrims near the Jordan Valley Baptism Site on the left bank of Jordan

AMMAN, Jordan, June 26 (Itar-Tass) —— Russian President Vladimir Putin presented the Order of Friendship to Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad for great contribution to the development and strengthening of cooperation between Russia and Jordan. Presenting the order, Putin said Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad had made the initiative for establishing the center for Russian pilgrims in Jordan.

Putin took part in the ceremony of opening the guesthouse for Russian Christian pilgrims near the Jordan Valley Baptism Site on the left bank of Jordan where, many believe, Jesus Christ was baptized.

Putin said he met with Prince Ghazi “here on the banks of Jordan five or six years ago.” “I was greatly impressed with the Prince’s attitude to his country and to world religions,” he said.

He expressed the hope that the implemented project for the home for pilgrims will help bring closer the Islamic and the Christian worlds.

Putin also thanked the Patriarch of Jerusalem without whose support the implementation of the project would hardly have been possible.

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