Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques pays historic visit to Syria, discusses with President Assad regional scene, means to boost bilateral relations

Saudi-Syrian agreement signed to avoid dual taxation

Post-visit press release stresses need for Islamic, Arab efforts to stop Israel’s assaults on Palestinians, siege on al-Aqsa Mosque and attempts to Judaize Jerusalem

Leaders underline support for Lebanon’s unity, stability, building of flourishing, secure Iraq, backing Yemen’s government to impose security

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad held a first round of talks in the Syrian capital Damascus on Wednesday.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Syrian President decorated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques with Umayyah National Medal, the country's most prestigious medal awarded to leaders of the world.

Also, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques decorated the Syrian President with King Abdulaziz medallion, the country's most prestigious medal awarded to leaders of the world.

Then, the two leaders discussed the overall situation at Arab, Islamic and international arenas, particularly the Palestinian cause. They also discussed ways of enhancing cooperation between the two brotherly countries.

The meeting was attended by the two countries' official delegations.

In the presence of King Abdullah and Syrian President Assad, an agreement to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion on income and capital was signed between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The agreement was signed by Saudi Minister of Finance Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf and Syrian Minister of Finance Muhammad Al-Husayn.

The signing ceremony was also attended by the two countries' official delegations.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Syrian President held the second round of talks in Damascus on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the King.

The Saudi Minister of Finance Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf made clear that the agreement signed between his country's Government and the Government of the Arab Republic of Syria on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion on income and capital is a stable legal framework which defines the tax relations between the two countries.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the signing of the agreement, Al-Assaf called on businessmen in the two countries to take advantage of this convention to establish more joint investment projects.

The Saudi Finance Minister added that this convention is the 18th of its kind signed by the Kingdom with other countries.

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Attiyah said that the visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to the Arab Republic of Syria gains an added importance, reflecting the common keenness to promote the bilateral ties between the two countries which play an important role in supporting the Arab and Islamic issues, particularly the Palestinian cause.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Al-Attiyah stressed that King Abdullah's talks with the Syrian President Assad will open new horizons for Arab action.

"The visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Damascus reiterates the Gulf vital role in supporting the joint Arab action as well as the active contribution to the Nation's causes to achieve the well-being, security, stability and prosperity of their countries and their peoples", GCC secretary general added.

President Assad held a dinner party in Damascus on Wednesday in honor of visiting King Abdullah.

Prior to the event, the guests greeted the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Syrian President.

The banquet was attended by the official delegation accompanying the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Syrian President's deputies, Prime Minister, government and parliament members and ambassadors accredited to Syria also attended the event.

Within the framework of the visit of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to Syria, a meeting was held in Damascus on Thursday between Saudi Minister of Finance Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf and his Syrian counterpart Dr. Mohammad Al-Husayn.

During the meeting, they discussed prospects for Saudi-Syrian economic cooperation in general and stressed the importance of boosting the work of the Saudi-Syrian joint ministerial committee as well as investment and trade between the two countries.

The two ministers agreed to increase the capital of the Saudi-Syrian Company for Industrial and Agricultural Investments, to immediately cancel the ceramics fee imposed by Syria and to cancel the olive oil fee imposed by Saudi Arabia to boost trade between the two countries.

King Abdullah received at his guest residence in Damascus on Thursday President Assad.

During the audience, the two leaders continued the talks they held on a number of topics.

The event was attended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Adviser to the King.

Then, President Assad accompanied King Abdullah in an official motorcade to the Airport.

At Damascus International Airport, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was seen off by the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and the senior government officials.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was accompanied by his official delegation.

King Abdullah later on Thursday arrived in Riyadh from Damascus after two-day official visit to the Arab Republic of Syria.

At King Khalid International Airport, the King was received by Prince Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz; Prince Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; Prince Bandar bin Mohammed bin Abdulrahman; Prince Badr bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Commander of National Guard; Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister; Prince Saud bin Khalid; Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz, Acting Governor of Riyadh region; princes; ministers; senior officials and a group of citizens.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was accompanied by Prince Abdul-Illah bin Abdulaziz, Adviser to the King; Prince Miqren bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence and members of the official delegation.

Following the state visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to Syria, the following press release was issued:

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Excellency President Bashar Al-Assad held intensive talks during the state visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Arab Republic of Syria during which they had a comprehensive review of the firm bilateral relations binding the two countries and ways of consolidating and developing them as well as the issues of mutual concern at the regional and international arenas.

In this regard, the two sides confirmed the enhancement of political, cultural and media ties between the two countries and agreed on the importance of convoking the Saudi Syrian Joint Committee in the nearest possible opportunity and activating cooperation between them in all economic, commercial, customs and investment fields in the way that contributes to enhancing and consolidating bilateral cooperation between the two countries and that makes real the hopes and aspirations of the two sisterly peoples. In this regard, it was agreed to hold a business forum in the two countries and increase the capital of the Saudi Syrian Company for Industrial and Agricultural Investment.

Reviewed in the meetings were the developments on the Palestinian Issue, particularly the tragic situation facing the Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories, the importance of unifying Islamic and Arab efforts to halt the continuing aggression against the sisterly Palestinian people, the lift of the siege imposed by the Israeli usurping authorities on Al-Aqsa Mosque and the confrontation against the Israeli actions aiming at Judaizing the holy Al-Quds.

On Lebanon, the two parties underscored the importance of reaching whatever conduces to the unity and stability of Lebanon through reconciliation among the Lebanese brothers and of expediting the formation of a national unity government.

On Iraq, the two sides' views were completely identical on the importance of the security, stability, unity, Arab identity and non-interference in the internal affairs of Iraq so that an independent, prosperous and secure Iraq could be built.

On Yemen, the talks confirmed the importance of supporting the government of the sisterly Yemen, particularly its efforts to bring about security and stability in all parts of Yemen through wiping out sedition and unrest that threaten its integration and unity.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa lauded the visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to Syria in response to an invitation from the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

"The Saudi-Syrian summit is an important step in strengthening the Arab solidarity", Moussa said in a statement, expressing hope that the coming period would witness more of Arab summits.

Saudi newspapers of Friday continued their focus on the visit of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to Syria, highlighting its importance in boosting Saudi-Syrian relations.

The newspapers said that when the kingdom and Syria cooperate, Arab crises can be solved.

The newspapers said that the two countries enjoy great influence and important international relations qualifying them to play an important role in supporting all Arabs.

Syria and Saudi Arabia urged the formation of a national unity government in Lebanon on Thursday after a summit between President Assad and King Abdullah, the official Syrian news agency said.

Syria and Saudi Arabia back rival political players in Lebanon and an understanding between them is seen as crucial for the formation of a new government in Beirut.

"The importance of reaching consensus in Lebanon was affirmed, and finding points of agreement through the formation of a national unity government as basis for the stability of Lebanon," the news agency said.

It did not provide further details of what was said about Lebanon during the talks, which were cloaked in secrecy.

Saudi Arabia's relations with Damascus deteriorated after the 2005 assassination of Rafik al-Hariri, a Lebanese parliamentarian and former premier, who had close ties to Saudi Arabia.

A United Nations investigation has implicated Syrian security officials in the killing but Syria denies any role.

The Saudi monarch left on Thursday after a two-day visit, the first since becoming king. The news agency said the two leaders also discussed Iraq and the "tragic situation in the occupied Palestinian territories."

Saad al-Hariri, a Saudi- and U.S.-backed Lebanese political leader and son of the assassinated premier, has been trying to form a new government since an alliance led by him won parliamentary elections in June.

He has not managed to resolve disagreements with an opposition that includes Iranian and Syrian-backed Shiite Hezbollah.

When Hariri was initially designated prime minister he openly stated his aim to form a unity government but has been less specific about the nature of his cabinet.

Hezbollah and its allies have called on him to form a unity government and respect a seat-sharing arrangement agreed during his first attempt at forming the cabinet.

Jamal Khashoggi, editor of the Saudi Al-Watan newspaper, said Lebanon was no longer a main point of tension between Syria and Saudi Arabia.

"I think any delay in the formation of a Lebanese government now will be due to internal Lebanese differences," said Khashoggi, who was among the official Saudi delegation in the Syrian capital.

He said there was a limit to what a detente between Saudi Arabia and Syria could do to forge Arab unity and stabilize the Middle East.

Divisions between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, of the Fatah movement, and Hamas have deepened after Abbas agreed to shelve a United Nations war crimes report criticizing the Israeli invasion of Gaza.

Saudi Arabia, along with the United States, support Abbas while Syria and Iran back the Islamist Hamas, whose leader in exile Khaled Meshaal lives in Syria.