February 25, 1998

			IRAQ, OIL AND THE PILGRIMAGE ON SAUDI ARABIA'S CABINET AGENDA. SAUDI ARABIA WELCOMES THE OUTCOME OF KOFI ANNAN'S MISSION, AND EMPHASISES THAT UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS MUST BE RESPECTED AND IMPLEMENTED IN FULL.   PRINCE SULTAN AND CROWN PRINCE OF BAHRAIN DISCUSS THE SITUATION IN THE REGION, ANNAN'S MISSION AND THE EXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS.   GEORGE ROBERTSON, BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENSE: WE VALUE OUR FRIENDSHIP WITH THE GULF AND ARAB COUNTRIES. WE FEEL DISAPPOINTED WITH THE ACTIONS OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SO FAR.   LEBANESE MINISTER OF STATE MICHEL IDDEH SAID IN A WIDE-RANGING INTERVIEW: THE PEACE PROCESS IS DYING, THE STUPIDITY OF THE IRAQI REGIME MAKES ISRAEL EVEN MORE INTRANSIGENT. ISRAEL ALONE DREAMS OF THE STATELETS PROJECT.   TRIAL PERIOD FOR IRAQ. BLAIR: "WITH SADDAM DIPLOMACY PLUS FORCE EQUALS SUCCESS." COMPLETE COMPLIANCE WITH THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS IS THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE CURRENT CRISIS FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE. EFFORTS MUST BE CONCENTRATED ON REBUILDING IRAQ AND ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE AGREEMENT REACHED BY ANNAN REPRESENTS A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE IRAQI AND LEGITIMATE INTERNATIONAL DEMANDS. THE ARAB AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HOPES IRAQI PREVARICATION AND OBSTRUCTION WILL NOT BE REPEATED. THE SAUDI POSITION BEFORE AND AFTER THE AGREEMENT EMBODIES ITS EAGERNESS TO FULFIL ITS ISLAMIC AND ARAB DUTY. THERE IS NO OPTION BUT GOOD INTENTIONS BY ALL PARTIES. A NEW ERA OF RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION IN CONFRONTING CHALLENGES. RAFSANJANI'S TALKS IN SAUDI ARABIA COVER REGIONAL SECURITY, THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM AND THE DANGERS ARISING FROM THE IRAQI CRISIS. THE VISIT OPENS THE FILE ON THE THREE ISLANDS OF THE EMIRATES.