Completion of Evacuation of Russian Pilgrims Who Arrived by Land in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj

Unofficial translation from Russian

PRESS RELEASE

On January 18-29, by order of the Government of the Russian Federation following a bird flu outbreak in Turkey, the evacuation was carried out of the Russian pilgrims returning by land after performing Hajj to the sacred sites of Islam. About 6,000 Russians were taken out by motor transport from Saudi Arabia to Amman, Jordan, and further to Russia by OAO Aeroflot Russian Airlines planes. In the course of this operation 19 flights brought our co-citizens home, whose return by traditional land routes would have posed a real threat to their health and safety.

It is necessary to note the coordinated and efficient actions of Emercom, the Ministry of Health and Social Development, the Russian Hajj Mission, OAO Aeroflot Russian Airlines, and the Russian embassies and consulates general in the region that ensured the timely and organized conduct of this large-scale humanitarian effort.

Moscow would also like to express sincere appreciation to the leaders and the appropriate authorities of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their efforts in providing all necessary assistance with the evacuation of the Russian pilgrims.

January 30, 2006