Saudi Arabia, Egypt for boosting relations, commitment to Arab issues

A statement issued in al-Riyadh on Wednesday following the meeting between the Saudi and Egyptian foreign ministers said the two sides renewed the importance of continued work to strengthen Arab solidarity, based on complete commitment to the charter of the Arab League, the joint defense Arab treaty and economic cooperation among the Arab states and to the Arab resolutions in order to restore back all occupied Arab rights and strengthening national security.

The two sides renewed their demand to declare the Middle East region, an area from all mass destruction weapons and the need of Israel's joining of the NPT and to subdue its nuclear establishments to the comprehensive guarantees system of the International Agency for Atomic Energy.

The two sides also stressed their unwavering position in backing Iraq's independence, its sovereignty and its territorial integrity. They expressed sympathy with the Iraqi people and the importance of the Iraqi government's implementation of all international legitimacy resolutions so as to lift the international economic embargo imposed on Iraq and to put an end to the sufferings of the Iraqi people.

The two sides also agreed to take necessary measures in order to develop economic relations and increasing bilateral trade exchange, intensifying and increasing bilateral media cooperation. In this regard, they agreed to back cooperation in the area of intellectual property and in the cultural field.

The Saudi side was chaired by the foreign minister prince Saud al-Faisal and the Egyptian side was chaired by the foreign minister Amre Mousa.

The meetings were attended by several cabinet ministers and high ranking officials and representatives for the chambers of commerce and industry in the two countries.

The two sides also agreed to convene the meeting of the 11th session of the joint committee in Cairo and it was agreed to set a date for this meeting through diplomatic channels.