Iranian FM conveys a message to Saudi crown prince
Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 7/22/1999

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi met on Wednesday with the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz in al-Taif. The meeting was attended by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, Saudi officials concerned and the Iranian ambassador in Riyadh.

During the meeting Kharazi conveyed to Crown Prince Abdullah a message from Iranian President Muhammad Khatami.

In a statement to the London-based al-Hayat daily, the Iranian ambassador in Riyadh said the meeting held between Crown Prince Abdullah and Kharazi was "very good," during which talks dealt with "all issues, especially matters pertaining to oil."

He added that the two countries "are coordinating in what may be of concern to the oil states and the Islamic world." He added that the message sent by President Khatami to the Saudi crown prince "strengthens closeness and fraternity and aspires to continuously developing relations between Tehran and Riyadh in various political, economic and cultural fields."

He stressed that Kharazi's talks in al-Taif centered on "closeness among the region's member states."

Earlier in the day Kharazi and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Saud al-Faisal, held talks in al-Taif that lasted for three hours. In statements to reporters, the Saudi foreign minister said, "There is always a desire for meetings between officials in the two countries," adding that these meetings are a result of coordination between the two countries, especially in the area of oil.

But the Iranians, however, were very careful to assert that the Iranian foreign minister will not debate the question of the three islands nor the tripartite committee in his talks with the Saudi officials.

Kharazi, in a pre-departure statement to Saudi Arabia, had denied that he debated this matter with Saudi officials. In earlier statements, Kharazi stressed that "holding talks between Iran and the UAE is the best way to eliminate misunderstanding."

Previous Stories:
  Kharazi in Saudi Arabia to discuss islands issue   (7/21/1999)
  Iranian - Saudi relations also for serving Islamic issues   (7/19/1999)
  Saudi Arabia hopes to settle the question of UAE islands   (7/1/1999)
  Rafsanjani praised relations with Saudi Arabia   (6/10/1999)

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