Saudi crown prince concludes Arab tour in Beirut
Lebanon-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 3/3/2000

Talks started in Beirut on Thursday afternoon between Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.

On the Lebanese side the meeting was attended by Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Deputy Premier Michel Murr and several high-ranking Lebanese officials, and the Saudi side was attended by members of the delegation accompanying Crown Prince Abdullah.

Earlier in the day, Crown Prince Abdullah arrived in Beirut in a two-day official visit.

Crown Prince Abdullah praised Lebanon's steadfastness against the Israeli occupation. He stressed that Lebanon is an integrated part of the Arab states which refuses bargaining any of its legitimate rights.

He called on Israel to deal with realities and to resort to reason and logic and to work for taking the peace process out of the bottleneck, away from the "language of weapons."

The Saudi crown prince added, "The Lebanese people are an integrated part of the Arab nation. We know it's creative in sacrifices and patient at times of crises, a fact proved by experience and history. Therefore we have come here carrying to our steadfast people to hear from them to give and take, in a course of a reciprocated dialogue."

He continued, "We are a nation which does not beg the others her legitimate rights," adding that the Arab side has "offered everything possible in order to establish peace in the Middle East."

On Thursday evening, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia signed a loan agreement according to which Saudi Arabia offers a loan of US $100 million to Lebanon to be invested in the sectors of education, roads and the waters.

On the Lebanese side, the loan was signed by the Lebanese minister of construction and building, Mahmoud Othman, and the Saudi side was signed by the minister of finance and the economy, Ibrahim al-Assad.

Following the signing ceremony the Saudi minister said that an additional aid is ordered for Lebanon of US $20 million to be allotted in the field of reconstruction.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Walid Bin Talal to lead a campaign for fundraising to Lebanon   (2/11/2000)
  Lebanese premier held fruitful talks in Saudi Arabia   (11/5/1999)
  Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz meets on Lebanese Prime Minister   (11/4/1999)

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