MOSCOW. July3 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Kremlin press office said.
"During an exchange of views on the current situation around Qatar, it was noted that it has a negative effect on the already difficult state of affairs in the Middle Eastern region. The parties stressed the need to establish direct, mutually respectful dialogue among all of the states involved in this conflict," the statement says.
The two leaders also discussed progress in the implementation of the agreements reached during Russian-Bahraini top-level talks in Moscow last September. "The parties acknowledged the positive dynamic seen lately in the development of trade and economic relations. The parties emphasized the important role of the recently created bilateral Intergovernmental commission which held its first session in February of this year," the Kremlin said.
The conversation took place at the Bahraini request, the statement said.