Prince Saud Alfaisal, the Foreign Minister, highlighted the Saudi government's efforts in the field of economic development. In a press briefing held here today, he spoke on terrorism reiterating the need for fighting it internationally. On the Palestinian cause, he hoped the withdrawal from Gaza will be followed by withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian and Arab lands. The minister denounced acts by Israeli settlers against the Palestinians. He commended statements by Palestinian Authority's president Mahmood Abbas calling for an end to violence. On Iraq, Prince Saud Alfaisal expressed concern over some sectarian calls there and called on Iraqis to give priority to national interest. On oil, he explained that the cause of the high prices is the lack of refineries in consumer countries. On contacts between the Saudi and British governments on extradition of the wanted, he stated that contacts are continuing and there is a committee between the two countries working daily. "We hope the committee will reach an agreement on this subject. Recently, there has been a considerable positive response from the British government," he said. On the issue of opening a Saudi embassy in Iraq, he said it will be opened as soon as security is established in Iraq. The minister noted that there are some Saudi prisoners in Iraq adding, "We don't want any Saudis to go there," because what they are doing is not a jihad (holy war.) Replying to a question, he stressed that the Saudi initiative for peace in the Middle East is still there and said he believes it complements the Road Map. Responding to another question, he called on extremist journalists and the so-called experts in some US media not to aid terrorists in their aim of undermining Saudi-US relations.
