Saudi Arabia: Convening an Arab summit is impossible in current conditions
Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/18/1999

A Saudi official source asserted on Saturday the impossibility of convening an Arab summit in the current conditions, especially following the recent statements made by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

He stressed that the Arab Gulf position concerning the Iraqi government is "united."

In a statement to the Saudi daily Okaz published on Saturday, the Saudi source added that, "Timing is not convenient for holding an Arab summit because there is no room for an Arab summit to be attended by the Iraqi president following his recent statements."

Concerning the Saudi initiative towards Iraq, the Saudi official source that details concerning this initiative will be announced shortly at the proper time. He added that the initiative depended on ideas centered on principles, including two basic elements: preserving peace in the region and lifting the sufferings of the Iraqi people.

On the Arab contacts and meetings made on the ministerial level in Cairo and Jeddah, the Saudi source explained that these meetings aim at formulating a joint Arab position concerning the Iraqi crisis iso not to undermine Arab solidarity towards issues of concern to the Arab states.

The Saudi official source made it clear that the Gulf states' position towards Iraq is "united," a matter revealed by the speech of the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, the current president of the Gulf Cooperation Council council, at the conclusion of the consultation ministerial meeting.

Previous Stories:
  Arab sources: Albright will visit Egypt and Saudi Arabia at the end of the current month   (1/15/1999)
  Iraq criticizes Saudi initiative to alleviate embargo   (1/12/1999)
  Saudi daily strongly criticizes Saddam   (1/9/1999)
  Saudi Arabia says convening Arab summit requires good preparations for success   (1/2/1999)

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