The summit between King Abdullah and United States President Barrack Obama is crucial for helping to boost the prospects for peace in the Middle East, including restoring the rights of the Palestinian people. This is according to the Director of the Arab League's office in Washington, Ambassador Hussein Hassounah. He said that Tuesday's summit at the White House in Washington will see King Abdullah stress that the Arab world wants peace and justice based on United Nations' resolutions. He will want Obama to understand that the Palestinians must have their own state, with Jerusalem as its capital. In his interview with Okaz/SG in his office in Washington on Monday, Hassounah said King Abdullah is also expected to deliver a strong message to the American Administration and the country's people that the Arabs are calling for peace, that they reject terrorism and are keen to consolidate a culture of moderation and peaceful coexistence in the region. The King is also likely to emphasize that Israel remains the obstacle to peace and not the Arabs. He further said that both the Arab and international community consider this an important meeting. This is because of the stature of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in the Muslim and Arab world and the pioneering role being carried out by the Kingdom in all forums. King Abdullah's positive initiatives have placed his country in an influential position in the international community. Below is the full text of the interview: Q: King Abdullah's visit to the US comes at a time of extremely complicated circumstances in the region. How does the Arab community in Washington view this visit in terms of timing, considering regional and international changes? A: Actually, it is not only the Arab community that attaches great importance to this visit, but the international community as well. This is due to a number of reasons, including the stature of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in the Arab world and internationally, the pioneering role the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia plays in international and regional circles and King Abdullah's positive initiatives that have placed the Kingdom in an advanced position in the international community. Also we cannot forget the timing of this important visit and the serious circumstances the Middle East is passing through. This requires Arab-Arab and Arab-American coordination that will lead to just solutions for the legitimate grievances of the Arab Ummah. When King Abdullah meets President Obama he is representing the Arab countries and the concerns of the Arab people. This is the first meeting of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques with President Obama in the White House. They had met twice earlier – first in the Kingdom prior to President Obama's visit to Cairo in June, 2009 where he made his famous speech to the Muslim world; and the second meeting was at the G-20 summit in London. We know that President Obama is keen to boost his administration's relations with Arab and Muslim countries and his speech was welcomed in the Muslim world. Also, Obama announced on the first day he became president that he wants to establish relations with the Muslim and Arab world on the basis of mutual interests and mutual respect. This was welcomed by the Arab and Muslim world. Therefore, the Arab and American communities are watching this meeting closely. As you know the peace process in the Middle East has stalled because of the intransigence of the extreme rightwing Israeli government. The repercussions of the massacre on board “The Liberty” are still lingering in people's minds. Also, there are efforts being made to reconcile the Palestinian brethren. In addition, Washington will begin its withdrawal from Iraq in 2011. The Iranian escalation with the international community is at its peak after the UN Security Council imposed new penalties on Tehran. The Arab countries want to resolve this crisis peacefully, as they do not want to disrupt the stability of the region. All these strategic political factors give utmost importance to this visit. Q: Is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expected to discuss with President Obama the reactivation of the Arab peace initiative and for pressure to be placed on Israel to implement it, especially since the peace process has now reached a cul-de-sac? A: King Abdullah is the person who made the initiative and it is no longer a Saudi but an Arab and Islamic initiative. For sure the dialogue will include this issue. In his speeches, President Obama has repeatedly stressed its importance. I handed over to the President's assistant a joint letter from Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Amr Mousa, the Arab League's Secretary General, in which they stressed the importance of the initiative because it will open the way to a comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East. They also confirmed the readiness of the Arab countries to implement it because it means a total Israeli withdrawal from their land. It also means that all the peoples in the region will enjoy peace and that the Palestinian state will be established with Jerusalem as its capital. Q: Then what are the expected results of the visit, especially with regard to finding solutions for the Arab-Israeli conflict and coming up with the two-state solution? A: As you know, the Arab-Israeli conflict is old and complicated. Israel has always been intransigent and has been insisting on challenging the world by not complying with UN resolutions. King Abdullah's visit to Washington comes after important meetings he held with the leaders of the G20 summit countries, whose deliberations were concluded recently in Toronto. The importance of the G20 bloc of nations is obvious to all from economic, political and international perspectives. This group now plays an important role in the world and in the attempts to meet the challenges of the global financial and economic crisis. The summit has taken decisions and steps that would guarantee overcoming this crisis. We know very well the importance of the strategic Saudi and American role in the region, considering that Saudi Arabia is a big economic and political power in the region and the world. It is always keen to adopt wise economic policies that can contribute to economic stability, not only internally but in the world. This is also the case as an oil exporting county in the world and within OPEC. It has always shown its keenness to take decisions that would maintain oil prices at a level that suits global markets and its own interests. Therefore, the expectations are high for positive results that would lead to greater pressure on the extreme rightwing Israeli government, to force it to follow the road that will lead to a just and comprehensive peace and security for all. The White House meeting will be an occasion for King Abdullah and President Obama to talk in-depth on the region's issues.
