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Putin, Saudi crown prince to discuss Khashoggi's murder — Kremlin aide

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman will meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit

MOSCOW, November 28. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman will discuss the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit, Kremlin Aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.

"They will certainly discuss the issue," he said when asked whether the situation surrounding the murder would be discussed at the upcoming meeting.

"The parties may also touch upon the situation in Yemen, where the Saudi-led coalition continues military activities against members of the Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement. On its part, Russia calls for putting an end to the bloodshed as soon as possible and resuming the UN-sponsored intra-Yemeni dialogue," he said

According to the Russian presidential aide, the parties are expected to exchange views on global issues, focusing on the situation in the Middle East.

"In particular, the Syrian issue will be discussed. Russia and Saudi Arabia call for resolving the crisis through political and diplomatic means, ensuring the country’s unity and territorial integrity. Efforts to advance the political process, including the establishment and launch of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva, are also expected to be considered," Ushakov added.

He went on to say that Putin and Mohammad bin Salman would also touch upon bilateral trade and economic cooperation. In 2017, bilateral trade nearly doubled, reaching $915 mln, while a 15.7% growth was recorded in the first nine months of 2018. The Russian-Saudi intergovernmental commission, co-chaired by Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, is scheduled to hold a meeting in Moscow before the end of the year.