Saudi Arabia opens Madina airport to international traffic; al-Faisal: Sharon wants to make the Palestinians an Arab problem
Saudi Arabia-Israel, Politics, 1/7/2004

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, yesterday announced the possibility of having a joint European- Arab move to restart the implementation of the Roadmap in order to settle the Palestinian- Israeli conflict.

He simultaneously said that the Arab states will challenge by all its means the attempts made by the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon to evacuate the Palestinians from their lands, and to expel them to the Arab states, with the aim to convert the problem of the Palestinians to an Arab problem instead of being an Israeli problem."

In a press conference in Riyadh yesterday, al-Faisal said that the Saudi officials agreed with the EU Middle East envoy, Mark Oti, who met yesterday with the Saudi crown prince Abdullah yesterday on the need of "an Arab- European move" without explaining the nature of this move, adding "we are waiting for the reaction of the European side in order start a joint move." During his meeting with Oti, Crown Prince Abdullah called on the European Union to "pressure Israel in order to halt its aggression against the Palestinians and to stop building the separation wall."

Al-Faisal said that the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon "wants to expel the Palestinians from the Palestinian territories, so as the problem to remain an Arab (problem)," adding that is "unacceptable, and not possible."

Replying to a question of the attempts to settle the Palestinians in Lebanon and other Arab states, al-Faisal said that "the Arab peace initiative which was adopted by the Beirut summit in 2002, unanimously dealt with the issue of the Palestinians in the framework of the international resolutions, which confirm that the Palestinians have the right to return back or to be compensated. A matter which was approved by all Arab states."

On the other hand, the Saudi crown prince called during the weekly meeting of the Cabinet, on Monday, which was dedicated for preparations for al-Haj (religious) season, to avoid matters that will cause disorder, during this period which starts as from the beginning of February.

The director general of the airport in Madina announced yesterday that the Saudi authorities permitted foreign airline companies to run direct flights to al-Madina al-Munawarra, for the first time on the occasion of al-Haj season. He said that the decision includes planes coming from various parts of the world to the airport, noting that the airport received so far more than 30,000 pilgrims carried by more than 90 air flights. He expected the airport to receive 800 air flights including world airlines and Saudi companies carrying more than 250,00 pilgrims.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan minister holds talks with King Fahd,, saudi officials   (1/6/2004)
  Dialogue seminar calls for study extremism in Saudi Arabia   (1/5/2004)
  Saudi women demand women's rights from crown prince Abdullah   (12/31/2003)
  Okaz: Saudi dates with Israeli stickers   (9/8/2003)
  Saudi Arabia: our planes will remain where they are stationed   (9/5/2003)
  Israel: Saudi Arabia threatens Eilat   (9/4/2003)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search