JEDDAH: Britain and Saudi Arabia are opposed to the Iranian nuclear program, Sir Tom Phillips, British Ambassador to the Kingdom, has said. Iran, the ambassador said, is “not helping to solve the problems in the region”. “There is considerable British concern at Iranian interference in the affairs of the region,” the ambassador said. “Tehran interferes in Bahrain, and in Lebanon through Hezbollah.” Sir Phillips also spoke of close relations between his country and the Kingdom and the importance of the partnership for the Middle East. Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Phillips said recent talks in London between Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and British Prime Minister David Cameron were “positive” for what he describes as “strong and diverse” relations between the two countries. The ambassador said he had “witnessed personally” the affection in which King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is held by the Saudi people, and described his delight at his return to the country in good health and the British government's welcoming of his continued work toward reforms. British firms currently have some £20 billion invested in the Kingdom, representing, according to the ambassador, a “large growth” in trade and economic relations. “Large British companies like Shell, HSBC and British Aerospace employ large numbers of Saudis,” he said. “They make sure they are trained and qualified to work at the optimum levels of skill.” In the other direction, the ambassador spoke of the welcome offered by Britain to Saudi tourists, students and investors, and noted that last year his government issued over 100,000 visas for Saudi nationals. The British visa system, he said, is “perhaps one of the best in the world.” Twenty thousand Saudis are currently studying in Great Britain. “We would also welcome an increase in that number at British universities which offer what is regarded as the highest standard of education in the world,” he said. Strategic significance Phillips lauded the “extremely strong” military and defense relations between his country and the Kingdom and noted the provision of the Eurofighter Typhoon and military sea vessels. That strategic relation is significantly important for the wider region, he said, with his government regarding the Middle East peace process as a “top priority” and making “extensive efforts” for peace and stability in the Middle East. Sir Phillips said his government and the Kingdom are working to solve the issue in Yemen and ensure security in Bahrain, but noted that the situation is “different in each of the countries witnessing disturbances”. “The lesson is that people around the world want a better life and governments should respond,” he said. “There is no one way of governing. Each country chooses its own system of government based on the relation between the ruler and the ruled. There is a contract between peoples and governments, and that contract differs with each country. People everywhere want to be part of the political process in their countries.” With Britain part of the alliance in Libya, its “main goal to protect civilians”, the ambassador said. “The military operation in Libya was necessary to protect civilians,” he said. He said the London conference on Libya that gathered over 40 foreign ministers and representatives from Qatar and the UAE and international organizations such as the Organization of the Islamic Conference, “achieved its practical goals”. No room for Al-Qaeda Events in Yemen, Phillips said, are of “great concern” to the British. He said Britain was opposed to the use of force against demonstrators, and added that the Yemeni government needed to “build trust” with the Yemeni people and the opposition. “Without regaining trust it will be difficult to reach agreement on the transitional phase. We are prepared to help in the transitional phase but we do not interfere with the people's choice of who governs Yemen. Like Saudi Arabia, we are concerned with stability in Yemen, and it's important that there is no room in Yemen for Al
