TASHKENT — Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan underscored the importance of making the Gulf and Central Asian countries a safe, stable and prosperous region through promoting their mutual interests. "There is a broad consensus between the Gulf and Central Asian countries regarding the importance of establishing peace, encouraging negotiated solutions, and supporting security, stability and development," he said while addressing the second GCC-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue ministerial meeting in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, on Monday. Prince Faisal stressed the importance of further enhancing coordination and consultation between the Gulf states and the Central Asian countries based on common values, interests and deep historical ties. He also drew attention to the broad growth achieved in mutual relations over the past years. The Saudi minister called for concerted efforts to guarantee the internationally recognized rights of the Palestinian people and establish peace through negotiations in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and the principles of international law and international legitimacy. Prince Faisal highlighted the importance of continuing efforts to bring peace and stability to the region, the necessity of seeking a sustainable truce with a ceasefire and lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip, enabling the arrival of urgent humanitarian and relief aid, preventing the forced displacement of Palestinians, and the necessity of calling on the international community and the Security Council to stop the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people on a permanent basis. Those who attended the meeting also included Saudi Ambassador to Uzbekistan Yousef Algahrah Al-Otaibi and Director of the Department of the Gulf Cooperation Council Anas Al-Wasidi. In a related development, Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with his Uzbek counterpart Bakhtiyar Saidov on Monday on the sidelines of the second GCC-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue ministerial meeting. A key outcome of the meeting was the signing of a reciprocal visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic and special passports. Their talks covered a wide array of topics besides reviewing the current state of Saudi-Uzbek relations, and avenues for further collaboration on issues of mutual interest.
