Congratulations to Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud on appointment as Crown Prince 2012-06-20 21:50:00 Vladimir Putin congratulated Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud on being appointed Crown Price, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The President of Russia expressed his hope that the Crown Prince’s activities will promote the comprehensive development of Russian-Saudi relations in the interest of the peoples of both countries, peace and stability in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East overall.