February 18, 2000

FOLLOWING THE TALKS OF CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES AND CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH WITH THE ALGERIAN PRESIDENT: BOUTEFLIKA PRAISES KING FAHD'S STANCE REGARDING THE EFFORTS TO RESTORE NATIONAL RECONCILATION IN ALGERIA. Saudi Arabia and Algeria held summit talks in Riyadh under the co-chairmanship of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz and President Abdul Aziz Boutaflika of Algeria. The talks focused on bilateral relations and major Arab, Islamic and international issues. The Saudi side included Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, Prince Miteb Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Public Works and Housing, Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior, Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Emir of Riyadh Region, Prince Muhammad Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Emir of the Eastern Province, Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of State and Head of the Cabinet Presidency, Diwan and other senior officials. The Algerian side was attended by Abdul Latif Rahhal,Diplomatic Adviser, Muhammad Al Zarhouni, Hashmi Jayyar, Abdul Wahab Al Qeradshi and Rasheed Aisat, presidential advisers, Abdul Hamid Bouzahar, Director of the Department for Arab countries at the Foreign Ministry and Muhammad Taqiyeh, Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Abdullah later held a separate meeting with President Bouteflika and discussed major issues including the Middle East peace process. They reviewed the latest developments at Arab, Islamic and global levels. Earlier on arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on a three-day state visit, President Bouteflika was accorded a warm welcome by King Fahd, Crown Prince Abdullah, Prince Miteb, Prince Naif, Prince Salman and a number of senior civil and military officials. King Fahd hosted a dinner in honor of the Algerian President and his accompanying delegation. Following his arrival, President Bouteflika visited Makkah where he performed Umrah. He also visited the Haramain (Two Holy Mosques) Museum in Makkah and the Holy Kaaba Cover Factory. He commended the Saudi government's work for pilgrims and for the development of the Two Holy Mosques. Later he visited the Prophet's Mosques in Madinah. He prayed at the mosque and paid homage to the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). He also visited the King Fahd Koran Printing Complex in Madinah. Earlier, on arrival at Madinah Airport, the Algerian President was welcomed by Prince Miqren Ibn Abdul Aziz, Emir of Madinah region and senior officials. Upon his departure at the end of his visit, President Bouteflika sent a cable to King Fahd in which he expressed appreciation for the warm he and the accompanying delegation received from Saudi officials. He expressed happiness for the talks he had held with King Fahd and said the talks were characterized by mutual understanding regarding major joint issues of common concern. "I do feel happy for your clear-sightedness and deep analysis as well as your understanding to the various topics that were under discussion," he said. President Bouteflika lauded King Fahd's noble stance as regard to the ongoing efforts for realization of national reconciliation in Algeria and the desired Arab agreement. "I'm confident that you will spare no effort for closing the Arab ranks and enhancing the pillars of Arab solidarity," he added. In his cable of reply, King Fahd expressed appreciation for the heartfelt feelings spelt out by Bouteflika and said the Algerian President's visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had embodied the existing fraternal understanding between the Kingdom and Algeria. "Our views were identical on the various Arab, regional and international issues, and this fact has reiterated the importance of joint work in a manner that enhance aspects of cooperation and solidarity in these circumstances that are full of so many challenges," said the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. "Your brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia do love you and the fraternal Algerian people, they pray the Almighty Allah to realize the noble goals of the Algerians under your leadership," King Fahd added. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Abdullah received a cable from President Bouteflika in which he said: "I felt happy for your determination on exerting further efforts for the promotion of bilateral relations in a manner that realizes the ambitions of our two brethren nations." In his cable of reply prince Abdullah expressed appreciation for the heartfelt feelings spelt out by the Algerian President and said the Saudi officials were happy over his visit to the Kingdom. Crown Prince Abdullah noted that the visit had embodied the existing fraternal bonds between the Kingdom and Algeria. "We are looking to a bright future, and we will enhance the pillars of solidarity and cooperation among the Muslim countries in line with the teachings of the Islamic religion and the deep-rooted values," Prince Abdullah said.