Business meeting of the Deputy Chairman of Russian-Jordanian Business Council Mr. Valeriy Kononenko with the Chairman of Trade and Industry Chamber of the Russian Federation Mr. Evgeniy Primakov and the Head of International Church Relations Department of Moscow Patriarchy H.E. Archbishop Mark

In the framework of the meeting of the “Arabia-Expo” organizing committee, Mr. Valeriy Kononenko, Deputy Chairman of Russian-Jordanian Business Council, Chairman of Committee of Tourism, Culture, Religion and Cooperation with Public Organizations, had a personal meeting with Mr. Evgeniy Primakov, Chairman of Trade and Industry Chamber of the Russian Federation.

At the meeting Mr. Kononenko and Mr. Primakov analyzed the state of the Russian-Jordanian relations in detail, discussed the role and goals of the Russian-Jordanian Business Council due to the new political and economic priorities of Russia in the countries of the Arab region.

The foundation of the Council and its activities have already encouraged the development of the informational base and the potential for cooperation between two countries in the spheres of science and technology, innovations, trade, industry, and finance.

Mr. Primakov mentioned the great role of the Russian part of the Russian-Jordanian Business Council and its Chairman Mr. Novitsky in contributing to the development and strengthening of business relations between Russian and Jordanian companies regardless of their types of ownership.

Mr. Kononenko offered a strategy for developing new forms of business, political, social and cultural interrelations on the territory of Jordan.  This plan, according to Mr. Kononenko, will help to raise the role of social, political, humanitarian, charity, peacemaking, and cultural organizations in Russia, Jordan, and other countries of the Arab region.  Thus, it will contribute to the role of Russia in the field of mutual partnership and friendship.

As a result, Mr. Primakov approved of the main principles of the strategy and promised his personal support in its realization.

Deputy Chairman of Russian-Jordanian Business Council, Chairman of Committee of Tourism, Culture, Religion, and Cooperation with Public Organizations Mr. Valeriy Kononenko had a meeting with the Head of International Church Relations Department of Moscow Patriarchy H.E. Archbishop Mark.

Mr. Kononenko and H.E. Archbishop Mark discussed the question of cooperation between the Committee of Tourism, Culture, Religion, and Cooperation with Public Organizations and the International Church Relations Department of Moscow Patriarchy.

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Both sides noted that the 1-hectar piece of land by the Jordan River near the place of Baptizing Jesus Christ given by His Majesty King Abdallah II for building a House for Russian pilgrims was a sign of showing respect to the Russian nation and all orthodox Christians.  The day when the House for Russian pilgrims is built (its building started on March 24, 2007) will become a new step in the development of pilgrimage and pilgrim tourism between Russia and Jordan.  It will help to increase the number of pilgrims who visit holy sites and encourage further friendship of Russian and Jordanian nations.

Mr. Kononenko and His Excellency agreed that there should be activities carried out by Russia and Jordan in which religion becomes the main constituent, as religion prevails in the cultures that tend to establish peaceful and mutually profitable co-existence.