Blair meets with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz

A Saudi delegation led by Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and a British delegation led by Prime Minister Tony Blair on Saturday night held a meeting during which talks dealt with bilateral relations and developments in the international arena.

Meanwhile, Blair stressed his country's determination to achieve a genuine progress in the Middle East peace process.

In a statement he made on Saturday night following his visit to the British Consulate in Jeddah, Blair said: "It is important to establish stability in the Middle East. The peace process has to succeed."

"I will do my best for this purpose," he said.

Replying a question on whether he carries with him a British initiative in his current Middle East tour, Blair said: "I feel there is a need for a European role in the peace process. But this role is not separate from that of the US. Together they will achieve a breakthrough."

Blair added that his visit to Saudi Arabia falls in the course of a tour of the countries of the region to support the Middle East peace process and to strengthen relations between Britain and Saudi Arabia.

In an open message published on Sunday by the Palestinian daily al-Quds and the Israeli Jerusalem Post, Blair urged the Middle East peace process sides concerned to make new efforts to work with the US to break more than one year stalemate on the Israeli - Palestinian peace track.

Blair said: "The Americans are taking the lead in the efforts to move the peace process forward and in the land for peace initiative, which we support."

He went on that the European Union should complement the role of the US and not "cut across it." He said he would propose ideas from the EU to the Israeli Premier Netanyahu so that to revive peace talks.

Speaking on economic support to the Palestinians, Blair noted, "Assisting Palestinian economic development would give the peace process a major boost."