Saudi Arabia calls for a meeting to discuss Iraq and Palestine
Saudi Arabia-Regional, Politics, 7/22/2003

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal yesterday in Cairo called for convening a nearby meeting for the Arab follow up and move committee at the "level of the foreign ministers" in order to discuss the Roadmap to peace and conditions in Iraq.

He stressed the need of adopting a common Arab stances over what is taking place in Iraq especially concerning the recently formed transitional governing council.

Al-Faisal met in Cairo yesterday with the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and handed him over a message from the Saudi crown prince. He also met with the secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa.

Replying to a question on the possibility of a tripartite move between Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria, al-Faisal stressed that the "move between the three countries has not stopped wether by telephone or envoys." He added that the follow up committee has to meet in order to discuss Iraq's development, noting that the Arab states and Saudi Arabia "can think of sending forces to Iraq in case a legitimate government representing the Iraqi people calls for that."

Al-Faisal stressed his country's readiness to "provide the financial support for the Palestinian police but not more than that." Al-Faisal said that his talks with Mubarak covered "risks that might result from the deterioration of the conditions in Iraq," noting the need to have an Arab position. and "this is what we had discussed deeply, as well as all recent developments which include the formation of the transitional council and what this implies and the case to maintain Iraq' s sovereignty and independence."

Al-Faisal also stressed that the talks also covered "the Palestinian situation and its current phase." He considered that the US is "serious to the implementation of the roadmap," noting that the decision taken by the Israeli Knesset considering the West Bank and Gaza as unoccupied lands is "a silly decision which comes at a sillier time from a group of extremist in the Israeli Knesset."

For his part, Moussa said that "it is ripe time" in order to convene an Arab ministerial meeting, noting that "contacts are being made aiming at preparing for the meeting which will be set and whether it will be at the level of the Arab committee or not." He also talked about contacts that are being made with Iraqi leaderships to take part in the UN Security Council session today in order to discuss the report of the UN representative, noting that these leaderships will "convene a meeting in New York with the Arab Group at the UN.

Mousa added replying a question of calls made by certain Iraqi forces to withdraw from the AL that "Iraq is an integral part of the Arab textile," calling for not initiating misleading dialogues with these forces."

Previous Stories:
  Al-Faisal: we will not send forces to Iraq   (7/21/2003)
  Al-Watan: Saudi Arabia on regional issues   (7/1/2003)
  AL condemns Saudi Arabia bombings   (5/15/2003)
  Okaz: Saudi contingent join occupation forces in Iraq   (4/28/2003)

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