Gulf foreign ministers meet in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia-Gulf, Politics, 11/8/1999

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal has expressed his hope that the Middle East peace process will witness serious steps toward returning to the basics and principles adopted during Madrid conference and resumeing negotiations on all tracks to return all rights to their legitimate owners.

In a speech he delivered on Sunday in Riyadh on the inauguration of 73rd session of the preliminary GCC ministerial council in preparation for the 20th session of the GCC leaders, Prince al-Faisal stressed the importance of implementing international legitimacy resolutions according to UN Security Council resolutions 242, 338 and 425, the restoration of the complete rights of the Palestinian people, especially their right to establish their own independent state with Jerusalem as a capital, Israel's withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories including the Syrian Golan Heights to the June 4, 1967 border line and from south Lebanon and its western Bekaa according to UN Security Council resolutions 425 and 426, unconditionally.

On the relations between Iran the Arab Gulf states, the Saudi foreign minister, whose country will preside over the coming 20th summit of GCC leaders, said that Iranian - Gulf relations have witnessed tangible progress in recent times, thanks to the positive inclination adopted by the Iranian government.

He also indicated the standing islands crisis between the UAE and Iran, as well as preparing the atmospheres between the UAE and Iran for the start of direct negotiations.

The Saudi foreign minister continued, "We feel optimistic towards this matter in light of what has been revealed by Iranian President Muhammad Khatami on the keenness to start a new page in the Arab Gulf-Iranian relations that are characterized by good neighborhood, non-interference in internal affairs and fruitful cooperation for the benefits and interests of the two sides."

The GCC foreign ministers started their session in a closed-door meeting that followed the inaugural session. Earlier in the day, the foreign ministers of the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain arrived in Riyadh to take part in the meeting of the 73rd session of the GCC ministerial meeting.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said the six foreign ministers worked during their meeting to prepare the files that will be presented to the Gulf summit and that they agreed once again on convening on November 26 to resume preparations for the summit's agenda.

Previous Stories:
  GCC confers with British foreign minister   (10/28/1999)
  GCC, Jordanian relations reviewed   (10/19/1999)
  Preparatory meetings to prepare 20th Gulf summit   (9/24/1999)
  Kharazi in Saudi Arabia to discuss islands issue   (7/21/1999)

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