Saudi Arabia's FM in Iran on regional issues
Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 6/12/2006

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister visiting Iran described Iran as a significant regional country and said that besides broadening their cooperation, Iran and Saudi Arabia can have a decisive role in the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council to eliminate tension in the region and promote the welfare of the regional states.

Saud Al-Faisal is reportedly carrying with him a message from the Saudi king for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei. The visit takes place in response to the official invitation of Mottaki and Saud al-Faisal's talks with Iranian officials will mainly focus on strategies for expansion of cooperation between the two states.

During his 20-year term in office as foreign minister, al-Faisal has held talks with high-ranking Iranian officials several times.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki tiday said that Iran and Saudi Arabia are in agreement about solving the nuclear issue through peaceful and diplomatic ways based on negotiation.

Speaking to domestic and foreign reporters along with his Saudi counterpart, he said that his talks with al-Faisal centered on Iran's nuclear program.
"At the meeting with Saud al-Faisal, he was briefed on the Iran's latest nuclear stance and he declared his country's support for the legal right of Iranians to access nuclear energy within the framework of NPT," said Iran's foreign minister.

Visiting Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal stressed Iran's inalienable right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Al-Faisal, who arrived today for an official day-long visit upon the invitation of his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki, made the remark while speaking to reporters upon his arrival. The Islamic Republic of Iran is aware of its regional and international responsibilities and has made clear it is not after nuclear weapons, he said.

Mottaki assessed his talks with his Saudi counterpart as positive and said that the favorable trend of bilateral relations will open a new chapter through exchange of delegations, continued political talks and joint economic commission meetings in the near future.

He added that key regional matters, including the latest developments in Iraq and its security were also discussed at the meeting.

"The recent barbaric crimes in Palestine and regional security were also reviewed during the session and Saud al-Faisal said that the countries of the region can have a more decisive role through regional exchanges," added the Iranian minister.

He urged that Iran and Saudi Arabia should make more effort towards development of further closer ties, unity and integrity among Muslim states and Islamic sects.

In response to a question as how Iran will use the capacity of he Organization of Islamic Conference to solve the problems facing the Islamic states and who is Iran's most important adversary in the region, he said, "We have no enemy in the region. The regional countries are friendly and willing to cooperate with us. Concerning extra-regional states, we should recommend them to stop being hostile towards the countries of the region."

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