An official source of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia made the following statement: With great surprise, the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has closely taken notice of the repugnant remarks recently made by Mr. Farooq Al-Shara', Syria's Vice-President, implying a number of lies and contradictions which aimed at defaming the Kingdom. Distancing itself from falling to the same level of Mr. Al-Shara', which shows flagrant disgrace of the traditions and norms governing the relations among Arab brotherly countries, the Saudi Government would like to explain to the Arab and Islamic public the following facts: First: The Kingdom was and still is very keen on keeping its relations with the Syrian brotherly people as well as the Syrian government; and if those relations were to suffer any harm now, it is something that is out of the control of the Kingdom and those who will be held responsible are those who caused it. And Al-Shara' in his capacity as one of those responsible, knows them very well. Secondly: Talk on the so-called paralysis of the Kingdom's Arab and Islamic role will never come from a wise and moderate person since such a role is well known to all people throughout the Arab and Islamic worlds as well as the world at large. However, by speaking about paralysis, Al-Shara' might have meant the policy which he is representing and on the behalf of which he is speaking. Thirdly: The Kingdom has never and will never reject any meeting that aims at unifying ranks and strengthening Arab solidarity. The Kingdom's positions has never presented a problem; the real problems are the positions which denounced the unity of Arab ranks and worked for spreading chaos and disturbances in the region. Those are the positions the masterminds of which could not dare to admit as they think they could deceive the Arab and Islamic Ummah while their deeds reflect bluntly their ill-wills. --More
