Saudi FM praises Egypt's role in backing peace initiative

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal Thursday praised Egypt role in the peacemaking process in the Middle East and its backing to a Saudi initiative on Middle East peace.

"Egypt was the first to announce its support for the initiative and created an international backing to it," he told the satellite TV Orbit.

He referred to President Mubarak's efforts in support of the Saudi peace bid during his recent visit to the US.

Prince Saud denied differences between Egypt and Saudi Arabia over the initiative or that Mubarak's absence from the summit was due to its launch.

"Egypt is a major state in the Arab world and has a great status and potentialities," Al-Faisal said, adding that no Arab state could substitute Egypt's role.

Saudi Arabia's top diplomat voiced satisfaction with the latest developments in the Iraq-Kuwait issue which made the Arab summit come up with resolutions in support of Kuwait's interests, a confirmation that 1990 invasion would not be repeated and Iraq's unity and sovereignty would be maintained.

He described as encouraging the resumption of Iraqi-UN dialogue, expressing hope that this dialogue would bring about a solution to the crisis.

The Saudi official asserted that his country would not allow the use of its territories to strike any Islamic state.