Prince Abdullah: Saddam still constitutes danger to the Gulf region
Saudi Arabia-Iraq, Politics, 9/18/1998

Saudi crown prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz held talks in Paris with French President Jacques Chirac, Premier Lionel Jospin, Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine and Defense Minister Allen Richard.

Spokeswoman for the French Presidential palace Catherine Colona said on Wednesday that President Chirac and Crown Prince Abdullah detailed the situation in Iraq.

They regretted the attitude adopted by President Saddam Hussein, preventing Iraq from getting back into the international community and thereby increasing the suffering of the Iraqi people.

Colona quoted the Saudi crown prince as saying, "Iran proceeds towards openness," noting several indications of the new Iranian inclination.

In his meeting with Richard, the Saudi crown prince's talks centered on military cooperation and the security of the Gulf region in general and in Iraq in particular.

Following the meeting, Richard said: "Talks with Crown Prince Abdullah were characterized by great confidence in parallel with the strong relations linking our two countries." He added that discussions covered strategic, technical cooperation.

The Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz echoed earlier concerns about Iraq saying that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein still constitutes a danger to the Gulf region. In statements to reporters quoted by the London-based al-Hayat daily, the crown prince added, "It seems that the Iraqi President did not learn from his mistakes and that he is still the source of danger against stability in the region."

The Saudi crown prince, who is currently on an official visit to France, added that the sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council against Baghdad will be valid as long as the Iraqi regime refuses to abide by UN resolutions. But he remarked, "This does not mean that we are indifferent to the humanitarian situation of the Iraqi people."

Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz today visited the "Arab World " institute in Paris. The visit came in the course of his official visit to France on September 16 through 18.

He was welcomed by the institute's director, Kamil Kapana. He visited the exhibition of the second international cultural festival for the youths of the Gulf Cooperation Council states, being held at the institute on September 15 - 22.

Talks between Crown Prince Abdullah and Kapana dealt with the news development in cultural relations between France and the GCC states. A statement released by the institutes reads that the second international festival for GCC youths comes following the demonstration of "Discover the Saudi culture."

It was held by the institute during last June as an evidence on the development of cultural relations between France and the GCC states.

Yesterday, a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to London asserted that the two sides underlined the importance of the Middle East peace process for the future of the region.

The statement, issued in London Thursday, said that Saudi Arabia and Britain seek a durable and just solution to the Middle East question according to UN resolutions. The statement also called for the implementation of signed agreements and avoiding unilateral measures which may endanger the peace process, foremost being the Israeli measures in the city of Jerusalem.

The statement, furthermore, called for resuming peace talks on the Syrian track and the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 425 relating to south Lebanon.

Previous Stories:
  Saudi-French talks to strengthen political, security, economic relations   (9/17/1998)
  Saudi crown prince guest of British Queen   (9/15/1998)
  Saudi Arabia appeals to Iran and Afghanistan to maintain self-control   (9/15/1998)

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