Saudi Crown Prince Makes Historic Visit To Russia

Prince Abdullah reciprocated: "Russia holds a special place in our hearts since it was the first nation to recognize the young government".

The three-day visit is the highest-ranking appearance by any Saudi official to Russia since 1926, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia said the crown prince would try during his visit to expound his country’s position on Chechnya in a bid to ease tensions with Russia.

While Saudi Ambassador in Moscow Muhammad Hassan Abdul Wali dismissed claims the kingdom is providing support to Chechen fighters.

"Chechnya is an internal Russian affair, … and Saudi Arabia does not interfere in what is happening there in direct or indirect way," Wali was quoted as saying.

The Saudi diplomat said his country only offer humanitarian relief supplies to Chechnya in accordance with an agreement signed between the Saudi Red Crescent and the Russian emergency ministry.

"We condemn terrorism in all its forms, and are ready to join international efforts for its combat," he said.

Relations between the Saudi kingdom and Moscow have been undermined over past decades by the Soviet Union’s war in Afghanistan – a nation supported by Riyadh – and by more recent Russian concerns that Saudi officials have had links with Chechen fighters.

Moscow argue that Saudi charities have provided financial support to Chechen independence-seekers.

Russian officials have claimed that the Chechen fighters who seized a Moscow theater last October made calls to Saudi Arabia during the siege.