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December 29, 2006 |
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ABBAS DECIDES TO RETURN PRESIDENTIAL AND LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS. KING OF JORDAN CALLS ON PALESTINIAN PEOPLE TO TALK AND UNITE. BLAIR CALLS DURING HIS TOUR OF THE REGION FOR A SOLUTION BASED ON TWO STATES, ONE PALESTINIAN AND ONE ISRAELI. Prince Saud Alfaisal, the Foreign Minister, called on the Palestinians to unite and serve their cause. In the periodic press briefing, Prince Saud urged the Palestinians to avoid internal conflicts. On Lebanon, he called on the Lebanese parties to work to contain internal differences through dialogue expressing support for Arab league's efforts in this regard. On Iraq, he called on the Iraqis to respond positively to calls and efforts of the Arab League, gulf cooperation council and international efforts aiming at realizing harmony and national reconciliation among various sectarian and ethnic components of the Iraqi people. Responding to a reporter's question, Prince Saud denied media reports of a meeting between a Saudi official and Israel's premier. On British media reports on an arms deal with a British company, he said the controversy surrounding it is over. Responding to another question, he said the Palestinian president's call for early election is a Palestinian issue. Commenting on reports linking the resignation of Prince Turki Alfaisal as ambassador of the Kingdom to the United States of America to the state of the Saudi U.S. bilateral relations, prince Saud Alfaisal described the reports as wrong predictions. Prince Turki Alfaisal has presented his resignation for personal reasons but announcement of its acceptance was delayed pending the end of his term of office as ambassador, Prince Saud said, noting that Prince Turki Alfaisal has served his nation with the utmost sincerity and dedication. In response to rumors that Prince Turki might replace him as foreign minister, Prince Saud said jokingly that if the prince dares to take my position, he has to be ready for fighting. In response to a question on whether the relations between the Kingdom and Syria are cool, Prince Saud said if something of this kind is taking place now, the Kingdom is not the one to blame. However, he wished the two countries good relations. On the Iranian offer to provide assistance for the GCC countries seeking nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Prince Saud Alfaisal expressed appreciation of Iran for this offer, adding that the GCC countries would, of course, welcome assistance from any country in this field. He noted that Iran itself is seeking technological assistance for its nuclear program. He reiterated the GCC position against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, noting that the GCC program is for peaceful purposes. On whether some kind of hindrances from the world community on the GCC countries' endeavor to obtain nuclear energy is expected, Prince Saud Alfaisal said: "I don't believe so" as we don't seek to acquire mass destruction weapons and based on the confidence bestowed on the GCC states firm policy of calling for a nuclear free region. On the current differences between Lebanon and Palestine, he called on solving the differences through dialogue and keeping national unity in both sides to overcome difficulties. On the Palestinian arena, he denied reports on the existence of a Saudi initiative to mediate between Fatah and Hamas. However, there are Arab efforts in this regard, Prince Saud said, adding that internal decisions and not external initiatives would rather alter the situation for the better. Dashing away reports that Saudi Arabia was siding the Sunnah of Iraq at the expense of other sects, Prince Saud Alfaisal confirmed that the Kingdom was keeping the same pace towards all Iraqi sects and was quick to the help of whoever fights for unity. On the Saudi state budget, he said the budget was targeting the benefit of the citizen. Meanwhile, the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed regret for the unfortunate events that took place in the Gaza Strip and said it underestimated the struggle of the Palestinian people and the heroic image. President Abbas in the Palestinian presidency's statement called on all parties to stop the shootings and killings and the termination of the associated processes in order to maintain national unity. Furthermore, Palestinian Interior Minister Said Siam that it was agreed between him and the leaders of the Palestinian security services to "withdraw all armed men from the streets and end all armed rallies", in conjunction with the announcement of President Mahmoud Abbas before heading to Amman, from the start of a comprehensive cease-fire. Jordan's King Abdullah II held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who arrived in Amman for a surprise visit lasting two hours. Quoted in a statement from a source in the Royal Court of Jordan, saying that "Olmert arrived in Jordan at the request of the King in the framework of the efforts exerted to revive the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis." On the other hand, Abdullah II expressed its readiness to host a meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya to discuss ways to end the political tension between parties. The statement said that King Abdullah II stated in a telephone conversation with Abbas that Jordan is ready to exert all efforts to help the Palestinians to overcome their differences and strengthen the unity of the Palestinian people. The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas "Abu Mazen" had informed him that the existence of mediation by some Arab countries - in a reference to the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar - that could lead to a result, progress on the path of the crisis between the Palestinian factions. Moussa said before leaving to Beirut that Abu Mazen reiterated what he said in his recent speech that the chance of forming a government of national unity still exists and that if there is progress it will have a positive outcome by this mediation. He added that in light of having contacts with the Palestinian president was of the view the possibility of postponing the proposed meeting of Arab foreign ministers to give a chance to efforts now, the minister said, stressing that in the event if the situation continues to deteriorate and the confrontation in the Palestinian arena will invite to the extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers with a reflection on the Arab League to convene an extraordinary Arab summit to discuss the Palestinian issue. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit warned of the consequences of slipping into a cycle of internal conflict among the Palestinian factions, pointing out that the Palestinian cause could lose the sympathy of the international community and the peoples of the world and waste what it had obtained over the past years. The head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas stated, in a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Tony Blair after their meeting in Ramallah on the West Bank,that he was willing to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to begin peace negotiations with Israel immediately end the violence and achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region. Abbas said he called for the presidential and legislative elections early to tell the Palestinian people of his program to achieve Palestinian national interests. Blair said on the other hand, "the International community must shoulder its responsibilities towards you if it wants to achieve the two-State solution, I will do so and my commitment to you and to the Palestinian people is as it has been in the past, and as I have said I will come back and will not be satisfied until what has been promised is achieved." |
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