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February 18, 2000 |
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SAUDI CABINET STRONGLY CONDEMNS ISRAEL'S AGGRESSION AGAINST LEBANON AND URGES THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DENOUNCE IT. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz said his talks with Algerian President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika were prevailed by mutual understanding and the desire to strengthen bilateral relations. King Fahd briefed the Council of Ministers meeting, which was held under his chairmanship at Al Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, on the results of his talks with President Bouteflika. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques said the discussion aimed at developing and consolidating joint cooperation in order to realize the aspirations of both countries by exerting all necessary efforts for the sake of their peoples' continuous welfare and progress. King Fahd also indicated that his talks with the Algerian President focused on the mutual relations between the two countries, as well as on various political and economic issues in the international arena. Following the session, Information Minister Dr. Fuad Al Farsi told the Saudi Press Agency that the Cabinet strongly condemned Israel's flagrant aggression against Lebanon, which resulted in numerous innocent civilian casualties, and material destruction of property and vital infrastructure- particularly power stations, roads and homes. "Israel's recent attack on Lebanonand its intent to hamper talks with Syria and the Palestinians affirm its move to foil the peace process," King Fahd told the Cabinet meeting. The Cabinet urged the international community to condemn Israel, compel it to cease its aggression against Lebanon, and force it to end its occupation of the Arab territories in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338 and 425. During the meeting, the Council of Ministers endorsed the agreement with Syria to combat drug trafficking. It also approved the agreement with the Council of Swiss Federation on international air transport tax exemption. |
