Saudi internal affairs not discussed with Bush; Saad al-Hariri role welcomed

The Saudi foreign minister Saud al-Faisal said in a press conference held in Dallas on Tuesday that the US welcomes Saad al-Hariri, to succeed his father Rafiq al-Hariri, noting simultaneously that the Saudi- American summit wich was held in Texas on Monday "did not discuss the Saudi internal issues" especially reforms.

Al-Faisal said "the Lebanese issue was discussed" during the meeting between the American President and the Saudi crown prince and "the two countries were notified about the withdrawal of the Syrian forces from Lebanon and expressed their hope that this withdrawal will enable the interim government to draw the new elections system and start the elections as soon as possible."

Al-Faisal added replying to a question on the visit of al-Hariri's son Saad al-Hariri to the USA, that "Saad al-Hariri meeting with the US vice President Dick Cheney was made following the meeting of the crown prince with the American President and no news were revealed on what was stated in the talks between Cheney and al-Hariri.

However, the American Vice President explained to the crown prince during the talks that the American administration welcomes Saad al-Hariri to replace his father as a parliamentarian for Beirut. Al-Faisal considered that the talks between Bush and crown prince Abdullah "restored back relations between the two friendly countries to former warmth, not only at the personal level between the two leaders, but at the level of the common interests."