The Austrian President, Dr Thomas Klestil, on Wednesday held a dinner party in honour of Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, who arrived in Austria yesterday.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Klestil highlighted the good relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Austria and stressed the importance of further enhancing understanding, tolerance, respect for human rights, and cooperation in various fields.
Klestil urged greater international efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. “Austria, in cooperation with European Union countries, has been exerting efforts to give impetus to the Middle East peace process and to promote peace in other regions of the world,” he said.
Klestil said that the current situation in Iraq constitutes a challenge to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab region, and the entire international community. He noted that the Kingdom and Austria believe in enhancing the role of the UN in Iraq.
The Austrian President said that joint, intensive efforts should be exerted to fight terrorism, which is an international phenomenon. “We reject the phrase ‘Islamic terrorism’,” he added.
Klestil said that Saudi Arabia can play a crucial role in promoting religious and cultural dialogue, due to its position in the Arab and Islamic worlds and its being home of the holy places.
The President said that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is Austria’s most important economic partner in the Middle East region.
For his part, Crown Prince Abdullah highlighted the significant historical role of Austria, and said that the country reflects a positive combination of authenticity and modernism.
He reiterated the fact that Islam is a religion of peace, love and tolerance, and that terrorists who perpetrate criminal acts violate the principles of Islam and any other religion. He noted that the Muslim world, as well as other countries worldwide, had suffered greatly at the hands of terrorism’s evils, and added: “I am confident that the forces of moderation and tolerance, with the grace of God, will be capable of defeating the forces of hatred and fanaticism.”
The dinner party was attended by Crown Prince Abdullah’s accompanying delegation, a number of senior Austrian officials, and members of the Saudi diplomatic corps in Austria.
Source: SPA
