Morocco, Saudi Arabia call for Arab unity

Morocco and Saudi Arabia have called for cementing Arab ranks and fostering Arab solidarity at the end of the 6th meeting of the high joint commission held in Riyadh over the weekend.

The two states underlined in a joint statement the need to endeavor to consolidate Arab solidarity, unify Arab ranks and enhance economic cooperation.

The two states also stressed the need to reactivate the Middle East peace process to reach a comprehensive, fair and lasting peace in conformity with UN resolutions and the principles of the Madrid conference, including the land-for-peace formula.

They also underlined the importance of freeing all occupied Arab territories, including Al-Quds (Jerusalem), the Golan Heights, south Lebanon, and to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their national rights to self-rule and to the establishment of an independent state with Al-Quds as its capital.

The two sides renewed their rejection of Israeli occupation and the settlement policy in the Arab and Palestinian lands and Israel's attempts to judaize the holy city of Al-Quds.

Morocco and Saudi Arabia, the statement added, called for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction from the Middle East and for submitting the Israeli facilities to international control. They pointed out that terrorism is an international issue and voiced backing for all international initiatives to struggle against this plague, both at the regional and international scales.

The two states renewed their stand regarding the safeguarding of Iraq's independence and sovereignty, stressing the importance of implementing all international resolutions by the Iraqi government of lifting the economic embargo on the Arab country and putting an end to the sufferings of the Iraqi people.

Riyadh and Rabat have also voiced concern over the situation in Chechnya and the fate of the civilians calling the Russian government to seek a political solution through dialogue and negotiation.