Saudi Arabia, Italy: Syrian peace talks should be resumed from where they stopped
Saudi Arabia and Italy have asserted the need to resume negotiations on the Syrian track of the Middle East peace process from the point at which they broke off and the need for Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon and its western Bekaa in accordance with UN security council resolution 425.
In a joint statement released on Thursday following the visit of the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to Italy, Saudi Arabia and Italy have stressed that the two sides underlined the utmost importance of the importance of giving the Middle East peace process a push forward in order to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East according to UN relevant resolutions and the Madrid terms of reference, especially the land-for-peace formula.
The statement stressed the importance of honoring obligations and agreements signed, adding that violating these agreements would threaten peace and security in the region. The statements stressed the importance of preserving the rights of the Palestinian people and not to make changes in the current status of the city of Jerusalem and condemning the making of a change in its demographic structure.
The statement expressed the importance of resuming negotiations on the Syrian track from the point they halted at and called on Israel to withdraw from south Lebanon and its western Bekaa according to UN Security council resolution 425. The Saudi side in the joint statement expressed appreciation for Italy's stances and those of the European Union in backing the rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to establish their own independent state in line with agreements signed.
The statement stressed Iraq's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. It expressed complete sympathy with the Iraqi people in their sufferings and called on the Iraqi government to maintain total cooperation with the UN to lift the sufferings of the Iraqi people.
The two sides expressed their great concern over the situation in Kosovo. They condemned the brutal practices condemned by the Albanians of Kosovo of ethnic cleansing. They expressed their support for all international efforts exerted to reach a just solution to this question.
The statement described the talks the Saudi crown prince held with Italian officials as characterized of the spirit of clarity and cooperation and dealt with issues of mutual concern between the two countries.