Saudi FM arrives in Damascus today

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal arrives today in Damascus on an official visit to Syria during which he will preside over the Saudi delegation to the meetings of the seventh session of the joint Saudi- Syrian committee, while Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa will preside over the Syrian side.

The Saudi prince is accompanied by Minister of Finance and National Economy Ibrahim al-Assaf and representatives of concerned ministries. Official Saudi sources in Riyadh said the joint Syrian - Saudi meeting would evaluate recommendations approved during the meetings of the committee's sixth session, held in Riyadh in July 1996 as well as means of supporting and consolidating cooperation between the two countries in various economic, trade, investment, cultural, information, scientific and technical fields.

Diplomatic sources told ArabicNews.com that on the margin of the two-day meetings, the two sides will hold additional consultations concerning the proposed Arab summit and the peace process within Syria's call for covening an expanded summit that includes all Arab states without exception and for Arab states to halt normalization with Israel on order to isolate the Israeli prime minister.

The source added that the Syrian and Saudi officials will examine the report submitted by experts who met in Damascus during April.