In what is seen as a further thrust to strengthen reconciliation among Arab countries, King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, will hold talks here Wednesday with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. It will be Al-Bashar's first visit to Riyadh in four years. A qualitative leap in Saudi-Syrian relations was made on Feb. 15 when Prince Meqrin Bin Abdul Aziz, Chief of Intelligence, visited Damascus and delivered a message from King Abdullah to President Al-Bashar. Subsequently, Syrian Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Moallem visited the Kingdom. Last week, Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal called on the Syrian President in Damascus to extend the King's invitation to visit. Prince Saud has said that Arab differences have become a thing of the past and that reconciliation between Riyadh and Damascus would be achieved on a sound basis. The tripartite meeting comes ahead of the Arab Summit in Doha, Qatar, on March 30 where, in response to King Abdullah's call made during the recent Arab League economic summit in Kuwait, the leaders will strive to clear the air, coordinate Arab stands and reinforce unity. In Riyadh on Wednesday, the leaders are also expected to discuss efforts to achieve Palestinian national unity and discussing the implications of the International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Beshir. Arab sources expect the tripartite summit to increase the prospects of success in the Doha Summit. Hesham Yousif, director of the Arab League secretary general's office said the meeting hosted by the King would be “in the interest of the Ummah since it focuses on ways to coordinate Arab stances and find constructive solutions to Arab differences.” Yassir Abdo Rabo, PLO Secretary said “the Palestinian National Authority supports King Abdullah's efforts to clear the Arab atmosphere.” “The summit comes amid difficult developments in the region, which necessitate coordination and consultation to ensure Arab success. Rabo said the ICC warrant for Al-Beshir sets a dangerous precedence, constitutes “a flagrant and conspicuous violation to the sovereignty of an independent state” and requires a unified Arab position.
