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March 18, 2005 |
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SIGNING AND EXCHANGING DOCUMENTS REGULATING THE WORK OF BORDER AUTHORITIES AND ENHANCING LIAISON AGAINST SECURITY VIOLATIONS. PRINCE NAIF IBN ABDUL AZIZ: THE PLOT TO ASSASSINATE THE CROWN PRINCE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION AND WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COURTS. THE GCC MINISTERIAL COUNCIL LAUDS THE LATEST SYRIAN STEPS. PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL NEITHER MET WITH PEREZ NOR TOOK PART IN THE MADRID CONFERENCE. President Ali Abdullah Salih of Yemen received Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister of Saudi Arabia and head of the Saudi side in the meetings of joint Saudi-Yemeni committee for following up the implementation of the international border treaty between the two countries and its annexes. During the meeting, cordial talks were exchanged and issues of common interest were discussed. President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Saudi Interior Minister Prince Naif Ibn Abdul-Aziz held talks on the Yemeni Saudi cooperation in field of maintaining security and fighting terrorism. President Saleh was acquainted on the results of the meeting between the Saudi minister and his Yemeni counterpart Dr. Rashad al-Alimi in which the two ministers exchanged documents regulating the work of border authorities and enhancing liaison against security violations. The Saudi minister conveyed to President Saleh the good wishes of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul-Aziz, Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul-Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard and Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General. President Ali Abdullah Salih of Yemen held a luncheon for visiting Prince Naif Ibn Abdul aziz, the Interior Minister of Saudi Arabia, and the accompanying delegation. The luncheon was attended by a large number of dignitaries. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior left for Sanaa to chair the Saudi side to the meetings of Saudi-Yemeni Joint Committee on following up the implementation of the International Borders Treaty and its Appendices between the two countries and the exchange of ratification documents of an agreement for organization of border authorities. Prince Naif was accompanied by princes, ministers and officials. At Riyadh airbase, he was seen off by a number of princes, ministers and officials. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister, arrived in response to an invitation extended to him by his Yemeni Counterpart Dr. Rashid Muhammad Al-Alami. Prince Naif was accompanied by a high-ranking delegation including Minister of State and member of the Cabinet Dr Mutlab Al-Nafeesa, Saleh Al-Muhayya, the Chief of the General Staff, Dr Abdul Rahman Al-Jammaz, the Special Advisor of the Interior Minister, and other senior officials. Prince Naif, leading the Saudi side at the meetings of the Saudi- Yemeni Joint Committee, said the meetings of the Committee come in line with the international borders treaty signed by the Kingdom and Yemen. He praised the existing cooperation between the two countries. Prince Naif said he will convey a verbal message from the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, and Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, to the Yemeni President on issues of mutual interest. Underliying the importance of the borders treaty, he said it has positively contributed to enhancing security cooperation between the two countries. Prince Naif said the Saudi-Yemeni cooperation in combating terrorism was going ahead well. On his part, Dr. Rashid, lauding the existing security cooperation between the Kingdom and Yemen, said the borders treaty has opened new horizons in all domains. 'Exchange of documents of borders demarcation between the two countries will open wide-doors for partnership at all economic and security levels', he added. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior pointed out that his visit to Yemen aims at holding regular meetings of the border committee concerning with the implementation of Jeddah treaty. In a press statement upon his departure to chair the Saudi side to the meetings of Saudi-Yemeni Joint Committee, he said that he is certainly sure that the Yemeni brothers are serious and cooperative to the maximum with regard to the organization of borders. On smuggling children from Yemen to the Kingdom, Prince Naif denied this news saying it is baseless. Replying to another question on the extradition of 20 Saudis from Yemen, he believed that they will be handed over to the Kingdom soon. The Saudi-Yemeni Joint Committee on following up the implementation of the International Borders Treaty and its Appendices between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen held a meeting. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior headed the Saudi side and Major General Dr. Rashad Al-Ulaimi, headed the Yemeni side. Addressing the meeting, Prince Naif said that much of the work has been carried out with regard to implementation of the treaty, noting that we are now in the final stages of borders demarcation. On the maritime borders, Prince Naif said that we appreciate the great achievements accomplished by members of the executive committees, stressing that they will continue to finish all matters particularly those relating to citizens in the two countries. Prince Naif affirmed that the organization of borders is an important matter to preserve security in the two countries. The prince added the two sides are in agreement and security cooperation is at the best level. The meeting was also addressed by the Yemeni interior minister. Then Prince Naif and Dr. Al-Ulaimi signed and exchanged ratification documents of an agreement on the organization of border authorities between the two countries. The Saudi-Yemeni Joint Committee issued a statement saying: Upon the directives of the leaderships of the two countries, Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior headed the Saudi side and Major General Dr. Rashad Al-Ulaimi, headed the Yemeni side in the 8th meeting of the Saudi-Yemeni Joint Committee on following up the implementation of the International Borders Treaty and its Appendices between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen which was held in Sanaa on March 12-13. The press statement said that Prince Naif conveyed during his meeting today with Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Salih the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Crown Prince and the Second Deputy Premier. It pointed out that the meeting reviewed the efforts exerted to enhance joint security aspects and the achievements of joint committees concerned with following up the implementation of borders treaty for the interest of the two brotherly peoples. The minutes of the exchange of ratification documents were also signed, the statement said. Meanwhile Prince Naif Ibn Abdulaziz, the Interior Minister, commended the role played by the security men in confronting those belonging to the deviant group following the confrontation which occurred inside a residential building in Alrabwah district in the province of Jeddah. In a press statement upon arrival in Riyadh coming from Yemen, Prince Naif answered questions on Saudi Arabia's intent to prosecute 13 defendants accused of attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince and said the case is under investigation and will be later referred to the courts adding that the facts of the case will be learned and will be announced by the Ministry of Interior. The Interior Minister noted that the fact of the case are about to be completed. On Saudi Arabia's intention to attempt to extradite Al-Faqeeh, Prince Naif said, "Before we ask about his extradition, we ask the British government how it can be against terrorism and harbour such people." On the involvement of Al-Faqeeh in the Crown Prince's assassination attempt, Prince Naif said investigation will show everything. On existence of training camps for terrorists in Iraq, Prince Naif said, "Unfortunately, they exist and what we see in Iraq indicates the existence of such things." Prince Naif also commended the valor displayed by Saudi security forces in tracking down terrorists. "These efforts are aimed at exterminating this deviant group. Security officers will continue their campaign with greater force," he said while talking about the previous day gunbattle between security forces and terror suspects in Jeddah. The Interior Minister said the Kingdom was keenly following up the case of Saudi prisoners in Guantanamo. He also said no one from the 17 Saudi prisoners released by Iraq reached the Kingdom. He confirmed the presence of terror training camps in Iraq. The two ministers countersigned the approval documents of an agreement inked by the two countries in June 2003. "We realize that the border security is vital for both countries," Prince Naif said after the talks with Al-Alimi. He said demarcation of the joint borderline with Yemen was "at its final stages." "All issues between the two countries will be resolved in a spirit of goodwill and sense of responsibility," Prince Naif told the meeting. In his keynote speech, Prince Naif underscored the deep-rooted relations between the two Arab neighbors and described the border pact signed in Jeddah as an important event in the history of the two countries. He urged both sides to resolve all outstanding issues in a way that would protect the interests of the two countries. For his part, the Yemeni interior minister said the land border demarcation was nearly complete. However, he added that "there are more tasks to be done, mainly those dealing with Yemeni expatriates in the Kingdom." Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior arrived in Riyadh after heading the Saudi side in the meetings of Saudi-Yemeni Joint Committee on following up the implementation of the International Borders Treaty and its Appendices between the two countries and the exchange of ratification documents of an agreement for organization of border authorities. Prince Naif was accompanied by a number of princes and the official accompanying delegation. At Riyadh airbase, he was received by Prince Ahmed Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Interior Minister, other princes and officials. Earlier, Prince Naif left Sanaa. At Sanaa International Airport, he was seen off by Yemen's Interior Minister Major General Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Ulaimi, other officials and Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed bin Mirdas Al-Qahtani. On another scale the GCC Ministerial Council held its 94th Session in Bahrain The 94th session of the GCC Ministerial Council was held under the chairmanship of the Kingdom of Bahrain. GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman Al-Atiyyah said the participants of the meeting reviewed a number of political, security and economic issues in addition to issues pertaining to the environment. They also reviewed the issue of the three UAE's islands occupied by Iran as well as the latest developments in Iraq and the peace process in the Middle East and the phenomenon of terrorism. On the other hand the GCC Ministerial Council reviewed a memorandum submitted by the GCC General Secretariat on the decision of the GCC Supreme Council on education and other topics pertaining to cultural and judicial cooperation. The Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is made up of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. GCC Foreign Ministers met in Riyadh to discuss enhancing cooperation in the political, economic and security spheres. The two-day regular session discussed the current political developments in the region especially the situation in Lebanon in the aftermath of the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri and the subsequent Syrian withdrawal from that country. Prince Saudi Al-Faisal is leading the Saudi delegation to the session which will also discuss preparations for the Arab summit in Algeria on March 22. GCC secretary general, Abdul Rahman Al-Atiyyah said regional economic issues were also addressed. He noted that the session is being held at a critical stage in the region, especially the aftermath of the Iraq elections and the recent Sharm El-Sheikh summit. Foreign Ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC) arrived in Riyadh to attend the 94th session of the GCC foreign ministers . The ministers are Oman's Foreign Affairs Minister Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah; Bahrain's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa; United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister Rashid bin Abdullah Alnoami;and Kuwait's Foreign Minister Skeikh Dr. Mohamed Alsabah Alsalem Alsabah. At Riyadh Airbase Airport, they were received by Prince Saud Alfaisal, the Foreign Minister; Abdul Rahman Al-Atiyyah, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council; number of ambassadors and a representative of the Royal protocols. Activities of the 94th session of the GCC Foreign Ministers Council kicked last Sunday at the headquarters of the Secretariat General in Riyadh, under the chairmanship of Bahraini Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States welcomed Syria's decision to pull back its military from neighbouring Lebanon in line with UN resolution 1559. Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Ibn Mubarak Al-Khalifa, who is presiding the current GCC foreign ministers meeting, in his inaugural speech to the gathering, expressed hope this "wise Syrian decision would boost and further develop brotherly and historic bonds between Syria and Lebanon and maintain security and stability in the region." He said the GCC foreign ministers meeting aims at following up the decisions and recommendations issued during the 25th session of the GCC Supreme Council held in Bahrain last December, and at evaluating regional developments and coordinating relevant GCC stances. The meeting agenda included topics, he added, related to joint GCC action on cultural, economic, security, military and other spheres. The ministers also discussed the upcoming meeting with their European counterparts, scheduled for April 5 in Bahrain. The Bahraini leading official renewed GCC states invitation for neighboring and concerned nations to cooperate in resolving issues important for the stability of the region. The official voiced the GCC support for the UAE side in the dispute with Iran over the three gulf Islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Moussa, urging Iran to cooperate with the UAE and the international community's efforts to reach a peaceful resolution for this issue or turn it to the International Court of Justice. On the Iraqi arena, Al-Khalifa congratulated the Iraqi people on the success of their election, hoping the election would be the first step towards realizing the ambitions of the Iraqi people for a stable and free Iraq. He added the upcoming Arab leaders' summit, scheduled for March 22 in Algiers, would give an opportunity to debate the latest developments on the Arab arena, boost joint Arab action and reaffirm Arabs' stance supportive to restoring peace in the Middle East. He stressed it was important to create just and comprehensive peace in the region and create an independent state for the Palestinians, which capital city should be Jerusalem. He also called for combating terror and activating relevant cooperation, affirming the support to the GCC states to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in their efforts to uproot this phenomenon. Al-Khalifa also voiced the GCC backing for Saudi Arabian steps to implement the recommendations of an international conference on terrorism, which it had hosted, and for the Saudi Crown Prince initiative to found an anti-terrorism international center. Following the meeting inaguration, the conferees started a closed-door meeting, which Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah is attending. In his opening speech Sheikh Mohammed welcomed his GCC counterparts and expressing hope that the current session would come out with resolutions capable of pushing the GCC cooperation march forward. "We are meeting now for the first time after Zayed summit which was held in Bahrain last December to follow up the Supreme Council's recommendations and evaluate regional and global developments in order to coordinate a unified GCC stand towards them", he said. "The agenda of the meeting involves issues relating to the GCC cooperation process, partnership with other countries, consultations on the agenda of the meeting to be held on April 5 with the E.U foreign Ministers in Bahrain", Sheikh Mohammed said. "Out of belief in the need for a secure and friendly atmosphere in the region, we invite neighboring countries to lead consultation with us on whatever endangers the stability and security of the region", Sheikh Mohammed added. He stressed on the sovereignty of the UAE on its three islands which were occupied by Iran, renewing the call for Iran to adopt a peaceful solution and accept referring the case to the ICJ. Sheikh Mohammed congratulated the Iraqi people on elections success, expressing hope that elections would lead to restoration of stability and security in the country. "Terrorism represents a real threat to the security of our countries", Sheikh Mohammed said, calling upon the GCC States to cooperate among them to eradicate the danger. He also expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in their fight against terror, affirming that the GCC countries support Prince Abdullah's call to establish an International Anti-terror Center "The next Arab summit in Algiers will be a good opportunity for us to discuss Arab developments, review joint cooperation and reinforce the Arab unified stand towards the peace process in the Middle East to ensure a just and comprehensive solution to the conflict", Sheikh Mohammed said, affirming that the opportunity is more suitable than ever given the positive steps taken by the Palestinian people, led by President Mohammed Abbas to establish an independent state with Quds as a capital. He said the GCC states welcomed Syria's decision to implement UN resolution 1559 and pull out its forces from Lebanon, praising the brave decision taken by President Bashar Al Assad in this respect, saying that the decision would further reinforce the friendly and brethren ties between Syria and Lebanon. Sheikh Mohammed extended thanks and appreciation to the Saudi leadership for continuously supporting the GCC march and for the warm welcome and hospitality in which it received the GCC Foreign Ministers. Foreign ministers of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states meeting expressed hope that their talks with European Union scheduled for April 5 would produce a Free Trade Agreement between the two blocs. Answering a question put by Arab News at a press conference held following the ministerial meeting, Bahraini Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa said: "There has been a dialogue on this issue between the two parties for a long time and discussions have progressed well in the right direction to formulate steps at the next meeting to achieve our goal". The ministers also reviewed the issue of the three UAE islands controlled by Iran as well as the latest developments in Iraq and the Middle East peace process. Sheikh Mohammed, whose country currently chairs the six-nation Council, pointed out that the islands issue should be settled peacefully enabling the UAE to regain their rightful positions. He added that the elections in Iraq have shown encouraging signals for the Iraqis and the rest of the world that the country is in the process of handing over power to its citizens. While congratulating the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on successfully holding its first municipal elections, the GCC praised the efforts of the Kingdom not only in fighting terrorism but also in suggesting formation of an international center to counter terrorism. "Crown Prince Abdullah's proposal in this regard will help unify global efforts against terrorism," Sheikh Mohammed said. The meeting discussed matters relating to regional security, health, education and economy. It also decided to set up a nursing education institute in the region. Sheikh Mohammed said the council wholeheartedly welcomed the new Palestinian government and pledged its support and solidarity for the well-being of its people. While offering its condolences on the death of former Lebanese Premier Rafiq Al-Hariri, it also commended Syria for its graceful withdrawal of its troops from Beirut. Foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Sunday hailed Syria's decision to withdraw its troops from Lebanon and demanded a quick probe into the killing of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri. The ministers of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates commended the Syrian government s decision to withdraw fully from Lebanon, said a statement issued after a meeting in Riyadh. Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa, whose country currently chairs the six-nation bloc, praised Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad wise decision to end his country s three-decade military presence in Lebanon. He said it was step in the direction of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1559 which calls for an end to foreign interference in Lebanon and a dismantling of militias. The statement also called for a quick and transparent investigation of Hariri s February 14 assassination in a massive bomb blast in Beirut, for which the Lebanese opposition has blamed Syria and the Damascus-backed Lebanese government. Syria and the Beirut government have been under international pressure to end Damascus grip on Lebanon since the murder of Hariri, who made a fortune in construction business in Saudi Arabia and held Saudi citizenship. UN envoy Terje Roed-Larsen disclosed after a meeting with Assad that the Syrian leader had now agreed to fulfill the terms of Resolution 1559 and to withdraw his military and intelligence units from Lebanon. The GCC ministers called on the Lebanese people to overcome the crisis, preserve Lebanon s unity and stability, opt for dialogue between various political forces, and avoid anything which could cause division. On another hand a Saudi official denied the Israeli allegations regarding a handshake between the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud Al-Faisal and the Israeli First Deputy Premier, Shimon Peres during the anti-terrorism conference in Madrid. Head of the media department at the Saudi Foreign Ministry, Osama Naquli said in a statement to the Saudi "Okaz" daily that the Israeli allegations in this regard are invalid and fabricated. He pointed out that these allegations are untrue because the Saudi Foreign Minister did not participate in the conference as he was in Saudi Arabia during that period which coincided with the visit of several Arab and foreign leaders to the country. The Israeli news agency reported last Sunday that Prince Saud Al-Faisal shook hands with Peres and exchanged a brief conversation with him. The agency claimed that Peres had met during the conference with other leaders from Afghanistan, Algeria, Sudan and Morocco. ( There has been no handshake between Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres in the Spanish capital of Madrid as reported by the Israeli News Agency, said Osama Ahmed Nuqali, Chief of the Information Bureau in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Nuqali said this report is fabricated and false as Prince Saud did not participate in the anti-terror conference in Madrid which the report claimed as meeting place for the two leaders. Prince Saud was in the Kingdom during this period which coincided with the visits of some Arab and world leaders to the Kingdom, added Nuqali. The Israeli News Agency transmitted the news claiming that Prince Saud shook hands with Peres and asked him about his health. The network also reported that Peres met with other leaders from Afghanistan, Algeria, Sudan and Morocco during this conference. |
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