Schroeder in Saudi Arabia hails outcome of Egypt visit; calls for peace

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder lauded the outcome of his visit to Egypt and talks with President Hosni Mubarak, which mirrored identical views over a host of Arab and international issues discussed, in addition to bilateral relations.

In a press conference he held in the Saudi capital Riyadh within his current visit to the Muslim kingdom, Schroeder said that Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Germany concur on the necessity to enhance the UN role in Iraq to guarantee international legitimacy and the reconstruction of Iraq as well as restoring security and stability under an independent government that represents all the Iraqis.

"The upcoming period will see more coordination between Germany and Arab countries to work on retrieving stability for Iraq and improve the security conditions there," said Schroeder.

The German Chancellor voiced his country's readiness to provide training for Iraqi army and police units in Germany or in any other country in order to assist Iraq to restore security.

He noted that the US draft resolution on Iraq needs a better drafting, adding Germany and its European partners raised reservations over the draft in the UN Security Council.

Schroeder voiced his country's condemnation of Israel's strike on Syria on the grounds that it represents a violation of the Syrian sovereignty.

He underlined the need to solve the Palestinian-Israeli dispute politically in accordance with the roadmap plan away from the military solution so that establishment of two neighboring states living in peace would be materialized.

Schroeder said that an agreement was reached between Germany and Saudi Arabia on continuing their security cooperation and exchange of data and information to stand up against terrorism.

He pointed out that his talks with King Fah and Deputy Prime Minister Crown Prince Abdullah were successful and useful and covered all issues on the Arab arena, including Iraq and Palestine.

The German Economy Minister will pay a visit to Saudi Arabia next year to resume economic and trade talks between the two countries and activate investments and relations between German and Saudi businessmen.

He said that Germany is also supporting Saudi Arabia's endeavors to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) after progress in this respect by signing a bilateral agreement with the European Union (EU).

Meanwhile, the German mass media highlighted Schroeder's visit to Egypt and gave prominence to denunciation by Schroeder and Mubarak of the recent Israeli aggression on Syria.