Saudi crown prince in South Africa: Gossip tries to partition the Arabs

Saudi Arabia and South Africa on Thursday signed a cooperation agreement in various economic, trade, educational, technical and technological areas and in the field of exchanging investment and technical cooperation.

On Wednesday night, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz started a 25-day international tour in South Africa.

He was welcomed by the president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, and held talks with Vice President Thabo Mbeki.

Upon meeting with Arab ambassadors accredited in South Africa, the Saudi crown prince said, "It is required from the Arab states to work more for avoiding all disputes, and never to be depressed," adding that "we only lack a sort of frankness, openness so as not to have among us any sort of disputes" that he said are caused by those who want and seek "to create partitions among us by lies and gossiping."

Upon arriving in South Africa, Crown Prince Abdullah was welcomed by President Mandela, who spoke about the achievements of the negotiators from Saudi Arabia and South Africa in settling the issue of Lockerbie. He indicated the conversion of relations between South Africa and Saudi Arabia into a "partnership for peace and prosperity."

The Saudi crown prince and South Africa's vice president signed a cooperation agreement.