Arab peace plan not focus of Ahmadi-Nejad talks with Saudi king
Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 3/6/2007

Iran Deputy head of the Presidential Office Media Department, Ehsan Jahan-Dideh, on Sunday strongly rejected reports about the recent talks between President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad and Saudi King Abdullah claiming that the two sides discussed the Arab peace plan.

He underlined that no reference was made to the issue during the Riyadh talks between the two heads of state.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) claimed on Sunday that in his talks with King Abdullah, President Ahmadi-Nejad supported the Arab peace plan, which was approved at the Arab heads of state summit in 2002.

Based on the plan, some Arab states attending the Beirut meeting agreed to revise relations with Israel if Israel forces withdraw and return to the 1967 borders.

Ahmadi-Nejad paid a short one-day visit to Saudi Arabia on Saturday during which he met King Abdullah to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East, and the Palestinian and Iraqi issues were discussed in details.

The state-run Iraqi daily, Al-Sabah, and the independent newspaper, al-Mada, centered on Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad's one-day visit to Saudi Arabia. In separate analyses, the two dailies said that the visit aimed to prepare the grounds for participation in the upcoming regional and international conference in Baghdad.

According to Al-Sabah, Iraq was high on the agenda of Iran-Saudi Arabia talks and that both sides attempted to reduce the tensions witnessed in the Middle East.

"The meeting between Ahmadi-Nejad and Saudi King Abdullah took place at a time when high hopes have been pinned on the upcoming Baghdad conference, slated for coming Saturday," said the report.

It added that based on the media reports, the visit mainly aimed to reduce the regional tensions, particularly in Iraq.

The other Iraqi daily wrote that other Middle East countries consider the talks between the Iranian and Saudi heads of states as a new gate to promotion of security in the Persian Gulf area, which is one of the world's areas with the greatest tension.

"Regional developments were given priority in talks between Ahmadinejad and King Abdullah, but special attention was paid to Iraqi issue," added al-Mada.

President Ahmadi-Nejad said Saturday night that Iran and Saudi Arabia, as two influential Islamic states, shoulder several common responsibilities about the Islamic world and the sensitive Middle East region. He was speaking in a meeting with Saudi King Abdullah bin-Abd al-Aziz as-Saud before he wrapped up his day-long visit to Riyadh.

"Today, the oppressed nations vest their hope in Iran and Saudi Arabia. This has increased our responsibility in the Islamic world," he said.

Referring to sensitive situation in the region and the Islamic world, he added, "Today, there is no obstacle in the way of expansion of bilateral relations thanks to the goodwill and determination of the two countries' officials." The president said Tehran and Riyadh enjoy great potentials for bilateral cooperation, adding, "The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to share its experience in all economic, industrial, scientific and energy fields with Saudi Arabia." The Saudi King said despite the wish of the enemies, the two nations maintain friendly relations.

He stressed the importance of adopting wise strategies and attitudes based on goodwill to counter the schemes of the enemies to cause discord among Muslims.

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