Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated Tuesday that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is looking forward to the response of the Lebanese conflicting parties to push initiatives aimed at containing the crisis, resuming the national dialogue, respecting legitimate political process and refraining from any activities that undermine the security and stability of Lebanon which threaten the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, especially in the light of external interventions. This came in a statement read by Prince Saud at the beginning of a regular press briefing held earlier today. With regard to the Palestinian issue and the peace process in the Middle East, Prince Saud said that Saudi Arabia had participated in the meeting of the Arab Committee for the verification of the truth about the events in Gaza. "The Committee examined the initial reports that were received. It is still conducting intensive contacts in order to achieve the national reconciliation and the return of the Palestinian situation in Gaza to the legal framework in conformity with the constitutional frameworks. The Palestinian situation depends on the response of the Palestinian brothers in the efforts to settle differences among themselves and move forward in the peace process according to the Arab initiative." "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participated in the meeting of the Arab League Council at its extraordinary session to discuss the report of the ministerial committee for the Arab peace initiative and the intensive efforts that have succeeded in garnering broad and clear support for the Arab initiative through meetings held with the Quartet, the European Union, international and regional organizations as well as the permanent states -- the members of the Security Council," Prince Saud said. Prince Saud said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia felt that the Arab and international community have welcomed the positive points of the US initiative, particularly that the idea of an international conference has been always an Arab demand. Also, Prince Saud stressed that the success of the conference depends on addressing the central issues of the conflict which are comprehensive solution, viable Palestinian state, dismantling of settlements and resolving the problem of refugees and Al-Quds, adding that these are the elements that agree with content of the Arab peace initiative. "The joint meeting of the GCC countries, Egypt and Jordan with the United States in Sharm el-Sheikh emphasized these bases which were also emphasized during the visit of the US Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense to the Kingdom", Prince Saud said. "The Sharm el-Sheikh meeting elaborately discussed the situation in Iraq and reaffirmed respect for Iraq's sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and national unity," Prince Saud said. He drew attention to the fact that the importance of the resolution taken by the meeting lies in its emphasis on the mutual commitments between Iraq and its neighbors and the international community not to interfere in Iraq's internal affairs and continue to support Iraq politically and economically to overcome the crisis. He also said that the resolution asserts Iraqi government's respect of its obligations and reiterates the urgent need to implement the principles which were agreed during the ministerial meeting of Iraq's neighboring countries and Egypt with the permanent members of UN Security Council and the Eight Group held in Sharm el-Sheikh last May which stressed the responsibility of the Iraqi government to achieve comprehensive national reconciliation for all Iraqis, adopt economic reform, provide security and services to all Iraqis and ensure equality among citizens whatever their beliefs, ethnicity and political affiliation. The Foreign Minister pointed to what the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz said during the Cabinet's session yesterday that "the Kingdom is always keen in all of its positions to preserve its national interests, security, stability of its people and unity of Arab action as well as promote Islamic solidarity and realistic understanding of the world. The Kingdom believes that the way to achieve that is by the independence of national decision, focusing on common interests between the Arab states, supporting the tendencies of moderation and legitimacy in the Islamic world and openly dealing with all world countries". Prince Saudi also said that the Cabinet stressed that Arab and Islamic worlds possess enormous potential for development and achievement of security, stability and prosperity for their communities in addition to effectively contributing to making the world future and rapprochement among the world's cultures, adding that what prevents this are the forces that speak with more than one voice, look for differences, take stands away from facts and work for their narrow direct benefit. He also asserted that the way for dealing with the region's crises and achieving the progress of its people is based on overcoming these forces and their slogans and Ideology. Following his speech, Prince Saud answered the questions of the reporters. Regarding the Kingdom's expectation of the role of Russia in the Middle East peace process and the Iranian file in particular, Prince Saud said that "the role played by Russia is great. It is one of the permanent members of the Security Council and a state with great potential and has a major role in world policy. The contact made with the Russian government was in the framework of bilateral relations and coordination on a range of issues that concern the two countries, whether in the Middle East, the Balkans or Central Asia". He also pointed out that Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz delivered a message from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the President of Russia on the relations between the two countries during his state visit to Russia. On discussing the Palestinian issue with the Russian side, Prince Saud said that the Palestinian cause can not be addressed and resolved without the unity of the Palestinian position. He also asserted that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques made every effort and succeeded in laying the foundations for Palestinian agreement. On urging the Palestinian factions to accept the US initiative, Prince Saud hoped the return of Palestinian unity to the bases agreed upon in addition to working according to the decision of the Arab League Committee concerned with fact-finding, adding that the parties agree in principle to meet and move forward to take actions on the ground. Regarding the need for convening an Arab summit to discuss the invitation of the US President to hold an international conference on Palestine, Prince Saud said "I do not think that things need an Arab summit. Most Arab countries considered the US President's initiative as an initiative that includes important elements which existed and raised in the Arab initiative. Therefore, The initiative was considered as positive in terms of outlook and focused on the comprehensive solution in addition to the need that the conference addresses Al-Quds, 67 borders and the return of Palestinians". Regarding the opening of a Saudi embassy in Iraq, Prince Saud pointed out that there is a mission which will go to Iraq next week to consider the situation there and know how to establish a Saudi embassy in Baghdad. Regarding the terms of the Iraqi-Saudi agreement on combating terrorism, Prince Saud said "in fact the Interior Ministers sought and decided cooperation between countries. There is no new agreement, but there was a security mission from Iraq which held talks last week, including talks on opening Saudi embassy in Iraq and the decision was taken at that time". Prince Saud expressed satisfaction with the response from Sudan to the agreement regarding the existence of African and UN forces in Darfur region, expressing hope that the agreement would lead to stabilizing the situation in Darfur, bringing peace to the region and delivering the humanitarian relief to the needy in those areas. Regarding the current events in Iraq where ministers withdraw from the Iraqi government and their impact on establishing Saudi embassy in Iraq, Prince Saud said "the Saudi embassy in Iraq had nothing to do with the formation of the Iraqi government, but it looks after the interests of the two countries. The presence of the embassy would be a positive factor in the relations between the two countries".
