A HOST OF ARAB LEADERS ATTENDING THE 19TH ARAB SUMMIT CURRENTLY BEING HELD IN RIYADH HAVE EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THE GATHERING WILL CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS ENHANCING JOINT ARAB ACTION IN A WAY THAT BOLSTERS REGIONAL SECURITY, STABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT. THEY THANKED THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES KING ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ AL SAUD FOR HOSTING THE SUMMIT, HIS INCESSANT EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN ARAB SOLIDARITY AND JOINT COORDINATION TO FURTHER WORLD PEACE. MEANWHILE A NUMBER OF WORLD LEADERS STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF ACHIEVING A POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP WITH ARAB COUNTRIES AS WELL AS STRIVING TO REALIZE COMPREHENSIVE PEACE IN THE REGION. THE REMARKS WERE MADE IN MESSAGES ADDRESSED TO THE ARAB SUMMIT THAT BEGAN IN RIYADH TODAY. THE LEADERS INCLUDE THE PRESIDENT OF THE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL AUTHORITY MAHMOUD ABBAS; IRAQI PRESIDENT JALAL TALEBANI; TUNISIAN PRESIDENT ZEIN ABIDINE BEN ALI; PRESIDENT HU JINTAU OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT'S SPECIAL ENVOY TANSU ARIMA AND INDIAN MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS A. AHMAD.
