King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad held a meeting at the King's ranch here Wednesday. The visit came amid Riyadh's stepped-up efforts to build Arab unity around the Palestinians ahead of a possible resumption of peace talks with Israel. Crown Prince Sultan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Riyadh, and Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs attended the meeting. The two leaders discussed the overall situation of the Arab world particularly the Palestinian issue and the stalled peace process in the region. The meeting discussed measures to help unify Arab ranks and to resolve various lingering issues in the region without any outside intervention. The two leaders also affirmed their support for the Yemeni leadership and people. ?They also discussed ways to boost cooperation between the two countries in various fields. Later, the Syrian president left for Jeddah accompanied by Prince Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.?“Saudis, Egyptians and the Palestinian Authority all want the same thing from Syria, which is to push for the signing of the Palestinian reconciliation,” said Turki Al-Sahil, a Saudi political analyst at Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat. “The signing of the reconciliation will show that Arab countries are ready for peace talks (with Israel) to resume and puts Tel Aviv in a tight corner,” he added. Al-Assad's visit followed intense diplomatic efforts leading to a visit earlier this month to Riyadh by Hamas' political leader Khaled Mish'al.
