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November 24, 2006 |
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KING ABDULLAH UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE UNITY OF PALESTINIAN RANKS AND REJECTION OF DIFFERENCES AMONG PALESTINIAN BROTHERS. PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL STRESSES AT THE GCC FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING THE IMPORTANCE OF COOPERATION FOR CONVENING AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR PEACE. THE OIC'S MINISTERS CONFERENCE DECIDES TO BREAK THE EMBARGO IMPOSED ON THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. SINIORA ASKS ANNAN TO INCLUDE THE CASE OF GEMAYEL'S KILLING IN THE INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received at his office at the royal court at Al Yamamah palace in Riyadh President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority. During the audience, situations in the occupied Palestinian territories and sufferings of the Palestinian people resulting from the repeated Israeli attacks on them were discussed. On his part, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques underscored the importance of the unity of Palestinian ranks and rejection of difference among Palestinian brothers. The King also urged, for the resumption of efforts of the international quartet to continue its endeavors to achieve peace and enable the Palestinian people to set up their independent state on their national land with Al Quds as its capital according to the Arab peace initiative and international legitimacy resolutions. The audience was attended by Prince Miqren Bin Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, advisor to the King; Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet and Chief of the Court of the Cabinet's Presidency, and other ministers. On the Palestinian side, the meeting was attended by Abbas's official accompanying delegation and Palestinian ambassador to the kingdom Jamal Abdul Aziz Al Shobki. Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received at his office in Riyadh the President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas and accompanying delegation. During the meeting, they discussed the latest developments at the Palestinian arena and repeated Israeli attacks on Gaza strip and the western bank in addition to aspects of cooperation between the two countries and ways of enhancing them. The audience was attended by minister of state and member of the cabinet Abdullah Bin Ahmed Zenel and the Chief of Crown Prince's Court Ali Bin Ibrahim Al Hadeethi. President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas and accompanying delegation left Riyadh, concluding an official visit to the kingdom. At King Khalid International Airport, he was seen off by Abdullah Bin Ahmed Zenel, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet; Jamal Abdul Aziz Al Shobki, Ambassador of Palestine to the kingdom; and a representative of the royal protocol. The talks between Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas focused on the Palestinian issue, according to Palestinian ambassador to the kingdom Jamal Abdullatif Al Shobki. President Abbas, who is also Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and President of the Palestinian National Authority, and his accompanying delegation arrived in Riyadh on a visit to Saudi Arabia. In a press release, the Ambassador said the Saudi leadership's talks with President Abbas would further strengthen the kingdom's political and financial support to the just cause of the Palestinian people. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received the kingdom's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Al Sheikh, President of the Supreme Judicial Council Sheikh Salih Al Luhaidan, Ulema and sheikhs who came to greet him. The King also received winners of the national guard competition for the Holy Quran memorization which was concluded under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. In a statement, King Abdullah stressed that the people of Saudi Arabia adhere to their Islamic creed, ethics and Quran and urged all to memorize the Holy Quran which is the way for justice. The audience was attended by a number of princes. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received the Saudi Ambassador-Designate to Indonesia Abdul Rahman Khayat and Saudi Ambassador-Designate to Ghana Sameer A'qad. The King sent his greetings to the leaders of the two countries and urged the ambassadors to work to boost relations between the kingdom and both countries. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received at his office at the royal court at Al Yamamah palace in Riyadh the Speaker of the House Of Representatives Of The Republic of Uruguay Dr. Julio Kardoso and accompanying delegation currently visiting the kingdom. During the audience, the parliamentary senior official conveyed to the King the greetings of President Tabare Vazquez Of The Republic Uruguay. In turn, King Abdullah sent his greetings to the President. The audience was attended by Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Advisor to the King; Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet and Chief of the Court of the Cabinet's Presidency, and other ministers. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received at his office at the royal court at Al Yamamah palace in Riyadh the Japanese delegation taking part in the workshop titled "Saudi Japanese investment: a firm alliance", led by Jero Nimoto, Chairman of the Japanese Cooperation Center for the Middle East. The Audience was attended by Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Advisor to the King; Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of State, member of the cabinet and chief of the court of the cabinet's presidency, and other officials. Meanwhile Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received at his office in Riyadh a group of people who came to greet him. Later, he received a delegation of the tribes of Tathleeth province who thanked him for accompanying the monarch during his visit to their region recently. On his part, Crown Prince Sultan thanked them for their noble feelings. On the other hand Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Interior Minister, received at his office in Riyadh President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority, who was accompanied by former Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei and senior officials. During the meeting, a number of issues of mutual concern between the two countries were discussed. The meeting was attended by Abdullah Bin Ahmed Zenel, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet. Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Riyadh region, received at his office in Riyadh President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority, and accompanying delegation. During the meeting, a number of issues of mutual concern between the two countries were discussed. The meeting was attended by Palestinian Ambassador to the Kingdom Jamal Abdullatif Al Shobki. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received at the royal court at Al-Yamamah palace former Russian Premier Yevgeny Primakov and the accompanying delegation. Primakov conveyed to the monarch the greetings of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In turn the king sent his greetings to the president. The audience was attended by Prince Miqren Bin Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Advisor to the King; Prince Dr. Bandar Bin Salman Bin Mohammed Al Saud, Advisor to the King; Prince Abdulaziz Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of State, Cabinet's Member and Chief of Court of Cabinet's Presidency; Dr. Nizar Bin Obeid Madani, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and the Russian Ambassador to the Kingdom Victor Kodria Vitsif. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received at the royal court at Al-Yamamah palace Turkish Ambassador to the kingdom Ugur Dogan who bade farewell to the Monarch at the end of the ambassador's term of office in the kingdom. The Ambassador conveyed to the monarch the greetings of the Turkish leadership. In turn the king sent his greetings to the leadership. The audience was attended by Prince Miqren Bin Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Advisor to the King; Prince Dr. Bandar Bin Salman Bin Mohammed Al Saud, Advisor to the King; Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of State, Cabinet's Member and Chief of Court of Cabinet's Presidency; and Adel Bin Ahmed Al Jubeir, Advisor at the Royal Court. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received at the royal court at Al-Yamamah palace the Iranian Ambassador to the Kingdom Hussein Sadiqi who bade farewell to the monarch at the end of the ambassador's term of office in the kingdom. The ambassador conveyed to the monarch the greetings of the Iranian leadership. In turn the king sent his greetings to the leadership. The audience was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Miqren Bin Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Advisor to the King; Prince Dr. Bandar Bin Salman Bin Mohammed Al Saud, Advisor to the King; Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of State, Cabinet's Member and Chief of Court of Cabinet's Presidency; and Adel Bin Ahmed Al Jubeir, Advisor at the Royal Court. In Paris President Jacques Chirac received Prince Bandar Ibn Abdul Aziz Secretary General of the Saudi National Security Council. The meeting lasted for an hour and a half. On another development Foreign Ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council Countries held the preparatory meeting for the 27th session of the Supreme Council of GCC countries which will be held in Saudi Arabia on 9 and 10 December 2006. The Saudi delegation to the meeting was led by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar Bin Madani. Dr. Madani delivered a key speech on behalf of Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister. The speech dealt with regional issues including developments of the Palestinian issue, developments in Lebanon, Yemen's important role in bolstering security and stability in the region, the GCC relations with Iran, the situation in Iraq, the issue of terrorism and GCC economic cooperation. On Palestine, Prince Saud Al-Faisal said whenever the world anticipates a breakthrough, Israel comes to aggravate the situation in the Palestinian territories. He called on the world community to coerce Israel to meet its obligations towards the peace process in the region and refrain from killing the innocents, committing genocides and demolishing the infrastructure of the territories. The Prince calls for convoking an international conference to stop Israel's violations and revive the peace process. He expressed concern on the situation in Lebanon, calling on the Lebanese factions to unite ranks to avoid the dangers of sedition and difference. On Yemen, Prince Saud lauded the Arab country's role in enhancing security and stability in the region, noting with impression the success of the donors conference for Yemen's economy recently held in London. The Foreign Minister reiterated that the GCC member states are keen that their relations with neighbouring Iran be built on the principles of good neighbourhood, mutual respect, non-interference in interior affairs and resorting to peaceful means as an approach for solving disputes between the two sides through bilateral negotiations or sending the dispute to the international justice tribunal. In this concern, the GCC countries, as is the case for the world community, profoundly feel concerned of the Iranian nuclear issue and its effect on world security and peace. To this end, we believe that the ideal way to get rid of the ramifications of this problem remains in taking the path of dialogue and negotiations, the commitment of Iran to the requirements of the international atomic energy agency, serious work to make the middle east, including the gulf region, a mass destruction weapons free and recognition of the right of the region's countries to obtain experience in the nuclear field. On Iraq, the GCC countries confirm their support for the unity of Iraq, the integrity of its territories, support for the Iraqi government to bring about peace and stability in the country, non-interference in its internal affairs and deployment of its sovereignty over all its territories, Prince Saud said. He pointed to the measures taken by the GCC member states in the field of combating terrorism, confirming that the final result could not be seen without an international concerted effort to wipe out the phenomenon. Following the speech, a closed-door session was held by the foreign ministers. Dr. Nizar Bin Obeid Madani, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Abdul Rahman Bin Hamad Al-Atiyyah, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, held a joint press conference to cast light on the outcome of the preparatory meeting for the 27th GCC summit scheduled for Riyadh from December 9 - 10, 2006. Al-Atiyyah told reporters that the ministers selected the agenda of the summit meeting, with emphasis on the GCC economic and security inter-relations as well as the politics of the region. He said issues like the customs union, joint market, timetable of the monetary union, water and railway grid projects will be discussed. Education, security, defence and citizenship affairs will also be discussed by the summit. He lauded the outcome of the donors conference for the support of Yemen recently concluded in London. Expressing regret for the loss of the Lebanese Minister Pierre Gemayel who was assassinated in Beirut, Al-Atiyyah said the summit will tackle issues including terrorism, Iranian nuclear file, situations in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and other hot issues. Meanwhile the Executive Committee of Foreign Ministers of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) held an extraordinary meeting on Israeli aggressions against the Palestinian people. Addressing the meeting, the OIC Secretary General Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said that the Organization demanded that the unjust siege imposed by Israel on the Palestinian people be lifted. He renewed the call for holding an international conference to achieve comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on resolutions of the international legitimacy, principle of land for peace and Arab peace initiative. In a statement issued at the end of the meeting, the committee emphasized the comprehensive support for the struggle of the Palestinian people and their steadfastness in facing the Israeli aggressions. It condemned Israeli occupation forces for committing Beit Hanoun massacre and Israel's continual crimes against the Palestinian people, calling for implementation of all relevant resolutions including dispatching an investigation mission and reporting to the United Nations secretary General within 30 days. The ministers called on UN Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities and take practical measures to press Israel to withdraw its forces from the occupied Palestinian territories. Following is the text of the communiqué adopted by the extraordinary expanded meeting of the OIC executive committee at the level of foreign ministers: The Extraordinary Expanded Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting on Saturday 27 Shawwal 1427H (18 November 2006) at the Headquarters of the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Proceeding from the principles and objectives enshrined in the Charter of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and referring to the resolutions of the Organization of the Islamic Conference on the cause of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif; Recalling the Resolution on Palestine adopted by the Extraordinary Expanded Summit Meeting of the OIC Executive Committee held in Putrajaya on 3 August 2006; Having considered the Report of the OIC Secretary-General on the grave Situation in Palestine and having listened to H.E. the Head of the Palestinian Delegation as well as the interventions of Their Excellencies the Ministers and Heads of Delegations; Hailing the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in the face of the Israeli aggression and reaffirming its support for their just struggle to regain their inalienable national rights, including their right to self determination and to the establishment of their independent Palestinian State, with Al-Quds as its capital, over the entire Palestinian territories, as well as their right to a just solution to the issue of the Palestinian refugees based on UNGA Resolution No. 194; Expressing its backing and support of the resolutions adopted by the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Arab States, which was held in Cairo on 12 November 2006; 1. Condemns Israel for perpetrating the Beit Hanoun Massacre and its persistent crimes against the Palestinian people as war crimes and crimes against humanity and expresses its deep concern at the sharply deteriorating conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Al-Quds, as a result of the relentless Israeli assaults by the Israeli occupation forces, which has killed and wounded hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including women and children. It holds Israel and its leaders responsible in their personal and legal capacity for the consequences of these crimes and reaffirms the need to bring them to trial and prosecute them as war criminals; 2. Expresses its strong denunciation of the use of the veto by the United States to block the draft resolution on the Beit Hanoun Massacre, which has been presented by Qatar on behalf of the Arab Group. This casts serious doubt on the effectiveness of the American role; defeats the role of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in the preservation of international peace and security; and encourages Israel to persist in its aggression; 3. Welcomes the United Nations General Assembly resolution which condemned Israel, the occupying power, by an overwhelming majority for its perpetration of the Beit Hanoun Massacre, which is an indication of the international community's position rejecting Israeli practices in the occupied Palestinian territories; and calls for the urgent implementation of the resolution, including dispatching a mission to investigate the Beit Hanoun Massacre and to present its report to the UN Secretary General within thirty days; 4. Supports and welcomes Resolution No. 1/3-S adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council held on 15/11/2006 upon the request of the Islamic Group in Geneva, and calls for accelerating the implementation of its provisions, particularly with regard to the urgent dispatching of a high-level international fact-finding mission to investigate the Beit Hanoun Massacre and other Israeli crimes and violations in the occupied Palestinian territories. 5. Strongly calls for the responsible Israeli officials to be prosecuted as war criminals, as applicable under the Fourth Geneva Convention for the grave situation arising out of the human rights violations perpetrated by Israel in occupied Palestinian territories; 6. Requests the Security Council to shoulder its responsibility and take practical measures to compel Israel to withdraw its forces from all occupied Palestinian territories, to end its aggression, to provide protection for the Palestinian people and to find a just and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict; 7. Urges the Member States and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and private financial institutions to reconstruct the destruction caused to Beit Hanun and the northern Gaza Strip by the Israeli aggression and to provide medical treatment for the wounded and other victims of this aggression. 8. Requests the OIC Secretary-General to convene a meeting of the humanitarian organizations ands civil society institutions of the Member States in order to develop a joint programme to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the victims of the Israeli assaults among the population of Beit Hanoun and the northern Gaza Strip. 9. Calls for the convening of a meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War in order to examine the continuing violations and crimes perpetrated by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and to take adequate measures to compel Israel, the occupying power, to assume its responsibilities and respect its obligations under the Geneva Conventions. 10. Decides to break the embargo imposed on the Palestinian people and action of the international community in order to end this blockade and compel Israel to release the tax revenues due to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA); 11. Calls for the immediate release of the Speaker and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, ministers and leadership and other prisoners in the prisons of the Israeli occupation; 12. Calls for the convening of an International Peace Conference in the Middle East aimed at finding a just and comprehensive solution to the conflict in the region on all tracks; guaranteeing the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to the establishment of their independent State, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital; and achieving security and stability for all the countries and peoples of the region and the whole world on the basis of the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy, the principle of land for peace, and the Arab Peace Initiative. It requests the Secretary-General to ensure an active role for the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in realizing the convening of this Conference. 13. Welcomes the efforts of the Palestinian leadership aimed at achieving national cohesion and calls on them to accelerate the formation of a national unity government. 14. Calls for the effective implementation of the OIC Summit and ICFM resolutions regarding the boycott of Israeli companies; 15. Mandates the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the Chair of the Islamic Summit Conference (ISC), the Chair of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM), Palestine and interested Member States of the Executive Committee, to take the necessary measures to implement the provisions of this communiqué. 16. Decides to review the status of implementation of this Communiqué and at subsequent meetings of the Executive Committee as well as the next ICFM in Islamabad. On the Lebanese arena The UN Security Council "unequivocally" condemned the assassination of Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel and urged all parties in Lebanon and the region to show restraint. In a French-drafted statement read by its president, Peru's UN Ambassador Jorge Voto-Bernales, the 15-member council said it "condemns" the killing of Gemayel, whom it described as "a patriot who was a symbol of freedom and of the political independence of Lebanon." It also condemned "any attempt to destabilize Lebanon through political assassination or other terrorist acts" and urged "all parties in Lebanon and the region to show restraint and a sense of responsibility with a view to preventing any further deterioration of the situation in Lebanon." "The Security Council welcomes the determination and commitment of the government of Lebanon, to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this and other assassinations and underlines its determination to support the government of Lebanon in its efforts to this end," the statement said. It also reiterated its previous calls on all parties concerned to "cooperate fully and urgently with the Security Council for the full implementation of all relevant (UN) resolutions concerning the restoration of the territorial integrity, full sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon." The Gemayel slaying came as the Security Council was set to endorse the propose creation of a UN-backed international tribunal to try suspects in the murder of Lebanon's former premier Rafiq Hariri in Beirut in February 2005. Gemayel, a 34-year-old Christian Maronite politician, was shot to death in a Beirut suburb in the latest in a spate of attacks on anti-Syrian politicians over the past two years, prompting angry voices to blame Damascus. But Syria immediately condemned the assassination as "a crime aimed at destabilising" Lebanon. Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora officially asked the UN Security Council to help in investigate the assassination of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel. Jorge Voto-Bernales, Peru's ambassador to the UN and president of the Security Council, said he had received a letter from the premier "in which Siniora requested technical assistance to investigate the murder of Gemayel." Voto-Bernales sent a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, relaying Siniora's request that the UN probe investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri "contact the relevant" Lebanese authorities regarding the latest killing. The UN investigation is also looking into 14 other bombings that occurred in 2005, deemed by the probe's chief Serge Brammertz as "linked" to the Hariri assassination. |
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