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April 8, 2005 |
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PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL NOTES THAT THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS ON THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI ARENA PROVIDE A NEW OPPORTUNITY THAT SHOULD BE SEIZED. THE ARAB PEACE INITIATIVE CONSTITUTES A COMPREHENSIVE PROPOSAL FOR RESOLVING THE ARAB-ISRAELI DISPUTE AND ESTABLISHING A JUST AND COMPREHENSIVE PEACE. PRINCE SULTAN IBN SALMAN CALLS FOR THE ACTIVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN MUSLIM COUNTRIES. THE SHOURA COUNCIL DELIVERS A SPEECH AT THE INTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARY UNION. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, has underlined the importance of reaching a just and durable solution for the Palestinian problem. Addressing the joint meeting for the GCC Foreign Ministers and their Counterparts in the member countries of the European Union (EU) in Manama, Bahrain, Prince Saud said the Middle East region is still suffering from the adverse impact of the Arab-Israeli dispute. Prince Saud held Israeli responsible for the failure of the efforts exerted to settle the dispute, and said it is still going ahead on the policy of establishing Jewish settlements in the occupied territories. He reiterated the support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Palestinians. Prince Saud pointed out that the Arab peace initiative constitutes an integrated proposal for the settlement of the Arab-Israeli dispute, and said the Arab peace initiative aims at a just and comprehensive peace in line with the principles of Madrid Conference and the resolutions of the international legitimacy. He pointed out that the Arabs at their Summit, recently held in Algeria, had confirmed their adherence to the previously mentioned initiative and their keenness on the revival of the peace process. Prince Saud urged the EU countries to play a positive role as regards giving an impetus to the peace process in line with the Road Map and the concept of two independent states. Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Al-Faisal, addressing the joint meeting in Bahrain of the foreign ministers of member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and their counterparts from the European Union (EU), stressed the need to reach a just and lasting solution for the Palestinian problem. The region of the Middle East, he said, is suffering from the adverse impact of the Arab-Israeli dispute. He held Israel responsible for the failure of efforts to settle the dispute, pointing out the continuation of the Israeli policy of establishing Jewish settlements in the occupied Arab territories. Reiterating the Kingdom's constant support of the Palestinians, Prince Saud commented that the Arab peace initiative constitutes a comprehensive proposal for resolving the Arab-Israeli dispute and establishing a just and comprehensive peace in line with the principles of the Madrid conference and the resolutions of the United Nations. The recent Arab Summit in Algiers confirmed adherence to this initiative and the concern of the League of Arab States to revive the peace process. Prince Saud urged the EU countries to play a positive role and give an impetus to the peace process in line with the 'roadmap' and the concept of two independent states. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, had arrived in Bahrain to participate in the 15th session of the joint ministerial meeting between member states of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union. At the airport, Prince Saud Al-Faisal was received by Bahrain's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa; GCC's Secretary General Abdul Rahman Ibn Hamad Al-Atiyyah; Saudi Ambassador to Bahrain Abdullah Ibn Ibrahim Al-Quwais and a number of officials. GCC and the European Union agreed to fast-track negotiations over a Free Trade Area agreement. It will be the first bloc-to-bloc agreement of its kind in the world. Negotiations, which began in 1990, will be concluded by the end of this year, the two sides agreed at their annual foreign ministers' meeting at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa. They also agreed to hold the next round of negotiations on June 7, in Brussels, Belgium. All GCC countries stand to benefit greatly from the agreement, said Crown Prince and BDF Commander-in-Chief Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. He was speaking to reporters after visiting the delegations at the end of the talks. The GCC delegation was led by Deputy Premier, Foreign Minister and GCC Ministerial Council president Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa. "This will mean more trade and further development and prosperity once it is signed," said Shaikh Salman. He praised the objective of the GCC and EU to reach an agreement by the end of the year. The EU's keenness to expand its ties with the GCC in the education, human rights and political development fields were also welcome, said Shaikh Salman. Bahrain and the US signed a Free Trade Agreement on May 27 last year after four months of negotiations. There is still no specific date when the US Congress will ratify the deal, said Shaikh Salman. The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council have agreed to conclude a long-stalled free trade deal by the end of the year and will meet again in June, the Bahraini foreign minister said Tuesday. "We agreed on a date, that is on signing the free trade agreement by year's end," Sheikh Mohammad bin Mubarak al-Khalifa told reporters after the meeting. A joint statement issued after the meeting said EU and Gulf ministers would meet in Brussels from June 7 to 9. "The joint council noted the parties' commitment to do their utmost to conclude the negotiations at the earliest possible stage and preferably before the end of 2005," the statement said. European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, who attended the talks along with External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said he saw no real obstacles to the conclusion of the proposed agreement. The GCC and the EU signed a framework economic cooperation agreement in 1988 but have so far failed to agree a free trade deal. The GCC states met one of the EU requirements when they launched a customs union in January 2003, but implementation has hit serious snags. In principle, the GCC plans a common market in 2007 and a monetary union and single currency by the start of 2010. Foreign Ministers from the European Union and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, held their annual meeting on 5th April in Manama, Bahrain. They exchanged views on reinforcing Euro-Gulf relations. Ministers launched joint initiatives in the political, economic and social/cultural fields. They were expected to agree on the way forward for EU-GCC Free Trade Area negotiations with the aim of concluding them at the earliest opportunity. Ministers discussed regional issues of joint interest such as developments in Iraq, EU negotiations with Iran, prospects for the Middle East Peace Process and Saudi Arabian accession to the WTO. Reflecting the importance the European Commission attaches to the region, the Commission was represented at the Ministerial by Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson. On the eve of her trip, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said: "This is an important meeting for us. The EU is committed to strengthening relations with the region, and I believe that both sides are now ready to open up new areas for co operation. We need to identify specific initiatives in the political, economic and social fields and I am looking forward to making some concrete proposals to my GCC colleagues" Commissioner Mandelson, who spent the weekend meeting Trade Ministers in Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in advance of the Ministerial said: "The EU is a firm supporter of regional economic integration among the Gulf States, both as a means to greater regional prosperity and the basis of deeper and wider commercial relations with the EU. The EU and the GCC are steadily getting closer to a Free Trade Agreement that will be an important prize for both sides." The GCC is on its way to securing a world first in terms of international economic and trade agreements. Talks with the European Union over the world's first region-to-region Free Trade Area agreement will be completed by the end of the year, it was declared yesterday. The pledge was made in the final communiqué following the GCC-EU annual foreign ministers meeting, held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Spa. The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Premier, Foreign Minister and GCC Ministerial Council president Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa and Luxembourg Deputy Premier, Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister and EU Ministerial Council president Jean Asselborn. Both sides have committed to enter into negotiations on the FTA based on the1989 EU-GCC Co-operation Agreement. The negotiations were initiated in 1990 but remained pending until 1999 when the GCC announced its decision to create a Customs Union by March 2005. It was later advanced to 2003 at the GCC Summit held in Muscat in December 2001. The EU has since adopted new negotiating directives, aimed at providing for a mutual liberalisation of trade for a comparable level of market access opportunities in line with the relevant provisions of the World Trade Organisation. Sheikh Mohammed told a Press conference following the meeting that a new round of negotiations would take place in Brussels on June 7. He said that the Brussels meeting would take the necessary steps to ensure that the required exchanges of offers have taken place sufficiently in advance for fruitful negotiations. Sheikh Mohammed said several issues which had delayed the negotiations will be addressed soon. "The GCC states will meet soon to discuss our positions on the points raised regarding services and government procurement," he said. Sheikh Mohammed said that the European side would also have to discuss the points raised by Gulf countries regarding industrial tariffs, including the petrochemical and aluminium industries. Mr Asselborn said that the relations between the EU and the GCC had progressed over time. He said that the main focus of yesterday's meeting was to speed up the implementation of the FTA. EU Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson said that there were no fundamental obstacles facing the FTA. "Once signed, it will be the first region-to-region agreement in the world and will offer multiple benefits received from bilateral agreements," he said. Mr Mandelson said that he believed the signing of the agreement was possible. "We might have lost some time, but the opportunity is still there," he said. EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the main current goal was to accelerate negotiations on the FTA. "I personally consider this possible and share this vision with my Gulf counterparts." She said that the second aim was to expand co-operation and work together for satisfactory solutions on eradication of weapons of mass destruction and promoting human rights. "We believe that some progress has been made in the region and we welcome these reforms," said Ms Ferrero-Waldner. The third priority is to secure various initiatives in the social and cultural fields. "I have proposed for work to be carried out in the education sector by providing more scholarships and facilitating university exchange programmes," she said. Ms Ferrero-Waldner expects to make another visit to the region soon to discuss co-operation in the education sector. In their final communiqué, the two sides reiterated their determination to further develop political dialogue in order to seek common solutions to the challenges facing them. They welcomed the recent developments regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, particularly the commitment made by both parties at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit in February to stop all acts of violence. The GCC and EU also welcomed the prospect of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and from certain parts of the northern West Bank, as an initial stage in the process towards achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region. The two sides agreed that the rise of regional and border conflicts, international terrorism, organised crime and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction present serious threats to security. They said that these fields could only be contained by increased international and regional co-operation. The GCC and EU welcomed the agreement reached with Iran regarding nuclear issues following negotiations with France, German and the UK. They also welcomed Iran's decision to voluntarily suspend all enrichment related and reprocessing activities, urging it to provide full co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency in this regard. Both sides expressed concern at the lack of progress towards resolution of the territorial conflict between the UAE and Iran over Abu Musa and the Tunbs Islands. On developments in Iraq, they underlined their continued support for the Iraqi people and reaffirmed their willingness to work with the new Transitional National Assembly and with the Iraqi Transitional Government, once it has been formed. The GCC and EU called on all parties in Iraq to work together to establish a safe, stable, independent, prosperous and democratic Iraq that is at peace with its neighbours and upholds international law. They also reiterated their condemnation of the terrorist attacks, murders and hostage-taking which have been committed in Iraq. Both sides reiterated their strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and reaffirmed their commitment to combat terrorism. They expressed their shared willingness to reinforce their dialogue and develop concrete cooperation on human rights, inviting officials to make proposals in this regard. On the other hand President Hosni Mubarak received Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and his accompanying delegation. Attending the meeting were Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul -Gheit and Saudi ambassador to Egypt Ibrahim Saad Al-Ibrahim. Presidential spokesman Suleiman Awwad said President Mubarak's meeting with the Saudi Foreign Minister tackled the outcome of the Arab summit held in Algiers recently as well as bilateral relations. Speaking after Mubarak's meeting with Prince Saud and Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Awwad said Mubarak's talks with the Saudi top diplomat dealt with the meeting of the Egyptian-Saudi committee, that was held in Cairo last Saturday, in addition to the latest developments in the Arab region in light of the Lebanese-Syrian file. On the Lebanese situation, Awwad said Mubarak believes that Syria has already started complying with the UN resolution 1559 and that the withdrawal from Lebanon will be completed before the Lebanese Parliamentary elections. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal met in Sharm Al-Sheikh and discussed various regional developments, including issues addressed by the Algiers Arab summit. "President Mubarak and Prince Saud discussed the results of the 12th ministerial meeting of the Saudi-Egyptian Joint Committee and how to boost relations between the two countries," said presidential spokesman Suleiman Awwad. "They also talked about issues currently plaguing the Arab world, and the outcome of the talks with United Nations' Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen on the Syrian-Lebanese crisis," he told reporters. Egypt has been at the forefront of Arab efforts to mediate in the crisis, said Awwad, and believes that Syria has responded positively to the calls for a full withdrawal of its troops from Lebanon. Prince Saud also met with his counterpart Ahmad Abul-Gheit and agreed on establishing two bureaus in Cairo and Riyadh to offer services and facilitate financial procedures for both Egyptian and Saudi businessmen. The two offices will be ready in four months and will deal with problems such as movement of merchandize, taxation and customs. "It is important to hold the meetings of the business committee regularly as it represents a chance to evaluate what has been achieved ... and to draw plans for further coordination between the two countries for greater results," said Prince Saud. "Our expectations are immense but they are not impossible to achieve with the strong political will and true desire of the two peoples and governments," he added. Meanwhile "The summit meeting between President Mubarak and King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain tackled the overall regional situation," said Presidential spokesman, Suleiman Awwad. In statements after the meeting, Awwad said that the talks started with a session grouping only President Mubarak and King Hamad and then the two countries delegations joined them. The talks took up the Palestinian situation, the Iraqi file and the latest developments in Lebanon, Syria and Sudan, said the spokesman. The two Arab leaders also discussed means of boosting bilateral cooperation in the various domains, he noted, adding that the value of Bahraini investments in Egypt hit as much as LE 3 billion. As for the situation in Iraq, the two Arab leaders were unanimous on the need for the Iraqi people should restore full stability and security in their country. President Mubarak and King Hamad also underlined the necessity of implementing the Sharm El Sheikh understandings, said the spokesman. The Presidential spokesman said the Crown Prince of Bahrain will visit Egypt by the middle of this month at the invitation of Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Nazif for reviewing the details of the talks between the two leaders. The spokesman said both leaders had identical views on the need for restoring security and stability to Iraq, adding that the Iraqi people, after the recent elections, were now closer to the formation of their constitutional institutions, the government and the parliament which will draw up a permanent constitution and conduct public elections by the end of this year in line with the Security Council resolution. The two sides discussed the Palestinian cause and the progress of dialogue among Palestinian factions and efforts by President Mubarak for restructuring the Palestinian security services in cooperation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He said the two sides stressed the importance of observing Sharm el-Sheikh understandings and mutual commitments between the Palestinian and Israeli sides. Answering a question on whether talks touched on the results of the latest summit in Algeria, ambassador Awwad said views considered the summit as a significant towards boosting the joint Arab action, developing the Arab League and solving the financial straits it suffers. Both sides stressed the importance of enhancing solidarity among the Arab League members so that the league may turn into an effective instrument in facing up to the challenges, he said. On the other hand Abdul Mohsin Al-Hokair, the Head of a delegation of Saudi businessmen who were holding a wide-ranging session in Cairo, said that meetings of Saudi-Egyptian Businessmen Council focused on measures to enhance bilateral commercial and investment exchanges. He told SPA that these meetings were conducted on the basis of one team and that there is a desire to facilitate communication between both countries and exchange expertise and information. On his part, the Chairman of the Egyptian Union of Commercial, Industrial and Agricultural Chambers, Khalid Abu-Ismael expressed his dissatisfaction over the low-level of bilateral commercial exchanges in the past years. In a statement to SPA, Abu-Ismael expressed his admiration over the presence of Saudi Businessmen representing various sectors. He added that the final session of these meetings had turned out to be the most successful one since it concentrated on overcoming obstacles to increase the bilateral commercial exchanges In Dakar Prince Sultan Ibn Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of Higher Tourist Committee, inaugurated the 4th Muslim Countries Tourist Ministers. Prince Sultan said that the role of tourism is very important in connecting Muslim Countries with Tourist potentials they have as well as Islamic heritage. Prince Sultan Ibn Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of Higher Tourism Authority, who is also Chairman of 3rd session of Conference of Tourism Ministers of Islamic countries, called for the activation of tourism among Islamic countries and the intensification of collective and coordinating work to develop tourism. Addressing the conference inaugurated, Prince Sultan Ibn Salman said that the role of tourism is very important in connecting Islamic countries, noting that these countries are rich in tourist potentials as well as Islamic heritage. On his part, the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization Francesco Frangialli said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is determined to develop tourism to diversify its economy, create job opportunities and revive its cultural heritage. In a similar speech, the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu praised the efforts exerted by Prince Sultan bin Salman to enhance cooperation among Islamic countries. President Abdullah Wad of Senegal received Prince Sultan Ibn Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of Tourism Higher Authority. Prince Sultan Ibn Salman was visiting Senegal to participate in a meeting of the ministers of tourism of Islamic countries. Prince Sultan Ibn Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of Tourism Higher Authority, arrived in Tunisia. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency after the arrival, he said his visit to Tunisia aims at boosting bilateral relations in the field of tourism. During a meeting with Saudi travel agents in Tunis, Prince Sultan Ibn Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of Tourism Higher Authority, has stressed the strong relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. Addressing the Saudi Travel Agencies representatives in Tunisia, Prince Sultan Ibn Salman highlighted, during the meeting, which took place in Tunis last night, the role of tourism in the social life of people all over the world. Accordingly, the Tourism Higher Authority has forged plans to develop tourism in the kingdom and create job opportunities for Saudis in this important sector, he said. Tunisia's Premier Mohammed Al-Ghanoushi met with Prince Sultan Ibn Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of Tourism Higher Authority. During the meeting, they exchanged cordial talks and discussed cooperation between the two countries in the field of tourism. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Prince Sultan Ibn Salman described relations between the two countries as distinguished, adding that they reviewed tourist investment in the two countries. The meeting was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia Ahmed Ibn Ali Al-Qahtani and a number of officials. Tunisia's Minister of Trade and Handicrafts Monther Al-Zanaidi met with Prince Sultan Ibn Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of Tourism Higher Authority. During the meeting, they exchanged cordial talks and discussed cooperation between the two countries in the field of tourism. The meeting was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia Ahmed Ibn Ali Al-Qahtani and a number of officials. On the other hand, Prince Sultan Obn Salman met with Arab ambassadors accredited to Tunisia. Prince Sultan Ibn Salman, Secretary General of Tourism Higher Authority graced a luncheon held in his honor by Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia Ahmed Ibn Ali Al-Qahtani. The luncheon was attended a number of officials and Arab ambassadors accredited to Tunisia. Prince Sultan Ibn Salman, Secretary General of Tourism Higher Authority, left Tunisia after a several day visit. At Cartage International Airport, he was seen off by a number of officials, Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia Ahmed Ibn Ali Al-Qahtani and Dr. Mohammed Ibn Ali Koman, the Secretary General of Arab Interior Ministerial Council. In the Philippines Dr. Mohammad Ibn Ibrahim Al- helwa, Head of the Shoura council delegation to the International Parliaments Union, delivered the speech of the Saudi Shoura Council in the second session held in the Philippines' capital, Manila with the participation representatives of 140 states and a number of International organizations. The Kingdom speech concentrated on a number of important topics related to the needs of the worlds' peoples. |
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