PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL, THE KINGDOM'S FOREIGN MINISTER, SAID THE ARAB PEACE INITIATIVE APPROVED BY BEIRUT ARAB SUMMIT IN 2002 IS NOW COMPLETELY AN ARAB DECISION AND NOT A SAUDI, SO THAT IF THE ARAB COUNTRIES WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME ALTERATIONS OR DEVELOPMENTS ON IT, IT IS COMPLETELY AN ARAB BUSINESS. IN REMARKS TO REPORTERS BEFORE DEPARTURE ON LIBYA'S DECISION TO BOYCOTT RIYADH SUMMIT PROTESTING ON NOT CONVENING THE SUMMIT IN SHARAM ALSHEIKH, PRINCE SAUD SAID IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE HOST COUNTRY TO HOLD THE MEETING IN THE ARAB LEAGUE HEADQUARTERS OR IN ITS OWN TERRITORY. THIS IS OUR RIGHT AND IT IS NOT MORTGAGED TO A DECISION OF ANY OTHER PARTY, HE ADDED. HE SAID THE KINGDOM HAS ALSO INVITED SYRIA TO ATTEND THE FORTHCOMING SUMMIT IN RIYADH. HE DENIED ACCUSATIONS THAT THE KINGDOM CONSIDERS IRAN AN ENEMY, CITING A RECENT MEETING BETWEEN IRAN'S PRESIDENT AND THE SAUDI MONARCH IN RIYADH. HE SAID IRAN IS AN IMPORTANT COUNTRY IN THE REGION AND COULD PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE THAT WE WISH TO SEE, HOPING THAT IRAN COULD AVERT CONFRONTATION WHICH WOULD HARM THE WHOLE REGION. ON THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL INVESTIGATING THE ASSASSINATION OF RAFIQ ALHARIRI, LEBANON'S EX-PRIME MINISTER, HE SAID THE COURT WAS NOT FORMED OR DECIDED BY AN ARAB DECISION BUT A LEBANESE ONE SUPPORTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS AND NOT THE ARAB LEAGUE.
