Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that the Syrian crisis topped the political issues discussed during talks with visiting German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle during which the overall situation and the latest Arab and international efforts were reviewed. He said the Syrian regime is massacring the Syrian people and that it cannot be justified under any considerations. Prince Saud Al-Faisal added that the talks stressed the importance of focusing efforts toward an immediate and urgent stoppage of the war waged relentlessly by Syrian regime against its own people and implementing the Arab League plan and resolutions that have received wide international support and adopted by the UN General Assembly. He also pointed out to the importance of ensuring the delivery of urgent humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people and mobilizing the efforts of all international agencies and organizations to contribute to this matter. Following are excerpts of the press statement which was read by Prince Saud Al-Faisal at the outset of the joint press conference with his German counterpart in Riyadh Sunday: “Iran's nuclear program was among the topics discussed... The Kingdom supports... efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully, and hopes that Iran takes advantage of the deadline offered... to halt escalation, begin serious negotiations..., open its facilities to international inspection and remove all doubts about its nuclear program. We believe in Iran's right as well as the regional countries' rights in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. “We also discussed the flagrant interference of Iran in the internal affairs of Arab countries. “The Kingdom strongly condemns the continuing Israeli aggression on Gaza Strip and Israel's return to the policy of assassinations in flagrant violation of all ethical principles and international laws and norms. “The international community should bear its responsibilities to stop these Israeli policies of aggression and to protect the Palestinian people.” For his part, the German foreign minister said: “We are currently working on achieving three aims -- ending the bloodshed, delivering aid to the people, and a peaceful political transition. “We saw this possible in Yemen and we are focusing on transition.” “The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs is concerned with developing relationships with the Kingdom on severeal fronts,” he added. When asked about Syria, Prince Saud Al-Faisal said: “The only way for achieving a peaceful solution is that the Syrian regime opts to take a convincing step as the military solution is not appropriate. “If the Syrian president was confident about the support of his people and if the people fighting his regime are real terrorists, then he must accept the will of his people and allow the peaceful resolution and peaceful negotiations to be launched. “What is happening in Syria can neither be in accordance with international law nor the Islamic one and in fact, what the regime in Syria is doing, is a massacre of the Syrian people. I believe that this could not be justified under any moral, political or religious considerations. It is wrong by all means. “No one is against Syria or the Syrian regime, but we are against the actions of the regime; it is inhumane to see what we see and don't support the Syrians to defend themselves.”
