Syrian-Saudi developed bilateral relations
Saudi Arabia-Syria, Politics, 10/5/1999

Since the beginning of its foundation, Saudi Arabian foreign policy has been built on unwavering principles, especially in supporting Arab and Islamic solidarity, defending just Arab causes in international arenas, preserving world peace and security, nonintervention in the internal affairs of other states and not permitting other states to interfere in the country's own affairs, SANA reported.

Saudi Arabia is among the leading countries in the world in providing assistance to other states in comparison to its GNP, of which it offers 5.45%. During the past two decades it provided aid estimated at US $71 billion, from which 72 world countries benefited.

Between 1975 and 1995, the Saudi Bank for Development gave loans at a cost of 21.4 billion riyals that financed 3.0 projects in 63 countries and chopped its debts to developing countries estimated at US $310 million.

The remarkable Saudi - Syrian relations are considered one of the pillars of the national policy pursued by each country, and this can be seen reflected in the policies advocated simultaneously by Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, policies that serve bilateral interests and the welfare of the Arab states.

Coordination between the two countries is revealed in their common stances in Arab and international circles and arenas and in maintaining continued consultations between the leaders of the two countries.

The cause of Palestine and restoring Arab rights in the occupied Arab lands in the Golan, south Lebanon and the usurped Arab rights has constituted the base in the relations between the two countries. In this domain, Saudi Arabia has always backed Syria's stances and efforts aimed at establishing a just and comprehensive peace in the region based on international legitimacy resolutions.

The two countries ever consider the cause of Palestine as in the core of their interests and always stressed their backing for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to return home and for the establishment of the Palestinian state on the native soil of Palestine.

In this regard, the final statement released at the conclusion of the visit made by Saudi crown prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to Damascus at the beginning of June this year reiterates support for this very Palestinian right.

Joint Syrian-Saudi meetings, which are held periodically in each of the two countries' capitals, came to strengthen bilateral relations and common stances for the interests of the two sides. The convening of the seventh session of the committee in Damascus on June 15 and 16, 1998 was part of the efforts to foster cooperation on bilateral issues concerning Arab and international matters.

Since 1972, Syria and Saudi Arabia have been linked to an economic agreement that provides for encouraging capital investment, the establishment of joint projects and companies and facilitating trade exchange.

The two countries are always trying to develop bilateral relations on the level of major investments and to find proper solutions to arising obstacles.

Sides concerned in both countries' private and public sectors are trying to develop and improve lists of exports and maintain an agreement for greater exemptions provided by the two sides, to facilitate transport measures and increase commercial exchange.

The trade balance between the two countries favored Syria between the years 1990-1996 at US $35. In 1997 the volume of Syrian exports to Saudi Arabia was 602 million riyals. Among the Syrian exports to Saudi Arabia are livestock, fruit, vegetables, textiles, garments, furniture, sweets and electrical instruments. The volume of Saudi exports to Syria was estimated at a value of 262 million Riyals for the same year, including crude oil, oil byproducts, plant oils and dates.

The volume of private Saudi investments in Syria is estimated at US $700 million, and the number of joint venture projects is 49, including 38 industrial projects.

Most of commodities produced in the two states enjoy customs and tax exemptions upon being exported to the other country, a matter which gives it the privilege of competence due to the reduction in the total cost in comparison to similar imported items from a third country.

The two countries maintain cooperation in areas including agriculture, industry, fighting desertification, pollution, standards and specifications, tourism, culture, education, information and health.

There are also exchanges of expertise and results of scientific research between the two countries to support and expand common Arab cooperation.

The kingdom, whose territories extend 2,250 thousand km, proceeds in its projects and development plans towards more progress and modernization and further prosperity and services to its citizens, whose number according to statistics of 1992 reached 16.929 million inhabitants including 12.304 million Saudi inhabitants.

Previous Stories:
  Report: Arab diplomats expect President al-Assad to visit Saudi Arabia   (9/11/1999)
  Saudi crown prince confers with Syrian minister   (8/2/1999)
  Bashar al-Assad confers with Saudi defense minister   (7/13/1999)

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