Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, discussed with his British counterpart David Miliband Thursday bilateral relations and issues of international concern. “I commended the Saudi government for their support for a peaceful resolution of this conflict, including through the Arab Peace Initiative,” he said. Saudi Arabia brokered an agreement between Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas in February 2007 which led to the formation of a short-lived unity government. Miliband, who has just returned from a visit to the Middle East including a rare stop for a British leader in Syria, said he “shared with him my impressions from my visit this week.” “A comprehensive peace settlement has never been more necessary for both Israelis and Palestinians,” he added in a statement released by the Foreign Office. Prince Saud said the strong relations between the UK and Saudi Arabia have witnessed significant progress following the visit of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to the United Kingdom last year and the recent visit of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to Saudi Arabia. “Cooperation between the two countries has grown considerably at the political, economic, and media levels,” the Saudi Foreign minister said. ?Prince Saud also praised the efforts of Prince Mohammed Bin Nawaf Bin Abdul Aziz, the Saudi ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland, saying that they have had “a significant impact in strengthening cooperation between the two countries.” The abduction of the oil tanker Sirius Star was also foremost in the minister's agenda. “Our position is clear: the tanker should be released, as the abduction of a tanker at sea is an act of piracy and a grave criminal offense. It is unacceptable to the Kingdom, which will do its utmost to help protect the region.” “International law protects navigation and the countries of the region will start to secure it,” Prince Saud said.
