Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, today addressed a press conference on the Kingdom’s stance on recent regional developments.
Prince Saud said that the Kingdom and its citizens followed carefully the audience held by Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, with Ulema and intellectuals who participated in the Forum for National Dialogue, at which he called for tolerance, the renunciation of violence and extremism, and pursuit of dialogue and moderation, in accordance with Islamic principles.
Prince Saud said that the Arab and Muslim world and the international community must confront trends aimed to achieve the defamation of Islam, whose principles are tolerance and moderation.
Prince Saud stressed the Kingdom’s support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate cause. He emphasised the importance of calling upon the international community to press Israel to halt its aggressive policies and to cooperate with international efforts to achieve peace.
Prince Saud noted that the Crown Prince affirmed the Kingdom’s support for a proposal submitted by Palestinian Premier Ahmed Qurei to the Saudi leadership to implement a project to construct housing in the Palestinian city of Rafah.
Prince Saud said that he received the European envoy for peace in the Middle East, Mark Aut, with whom he agreed on Arab-European cooperation to revive the peace process at this critical juncture.
Prince Saud added that the recent announcement by Israel’s Premier of Israeli intensions to expand settlements in the occupied Golan Heights reflects a further violation of resolutions of international legitimacy. Syria, meanwhile, announced its readiness to resume negotiations with the Israeli side within the framework of international peace initiatives.
On the Iraqi situation, Prince Saud emphasized the importance of achieving security in Iraq as a priority to realize the ambitions of the Iraqi people, including regaining their sovereignty, unity, stability and ability to promote reconstruction efforts.
Regarding the humanitarian disaster in Iran following the earthquake in the city of Bam, Prince Saud expressed his hope that the combined efforts of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to provide aid worth $400 million for the victims and reconstruction and development projects in the afflicted areas will help to alleviate suffering.
Prince Saud said that Saudi Arabia will move forward on the path to reform process, stating that there is consensus on the central role of women in developments. He emphasised the significance of educational reform.
Referring to President Yassir Arafat and his Cabinet members’ statements on the issue of Palestinian refugees and the relevant United Nations resolutions, Prince Saud said that Arab countries propose a confirmation of the resolutions of international legitimacy, whereby a Palestinian refugee will have the right to return home or be compensated.
With regard to the Arab Follow-up Committee, Prince Saud pointed out that the Committee’s chairmanship is seeking to schedule a meeting of the Committee to follow up resolutions of the Arab Summit held in Lebanon. He stressed that Arab countries are seeking to revive the ‘Road Map’ to peace, and are awaiting response from the European side on the possibility of cooperation in this regard.
Source: SPA
