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January 12, 2007 |
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PRINCE SAUD: THE MEETING OF THE KING WITH HEZBOLLAH'S DELEGATION CAME FOLLOWING A REQUEST FROM HEZBOLLAH. THE UNITY OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IS OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE. ABBAS INSISTS ON HOLDING EARLY ELECTIONS AND PRESIDENT MUBARAK CALLS ON PALESTINIAN LEADERS TO WORK TOGETHER TO ASSUAGE THE SUFFERING OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND MEET THEIR ASPIRATIONS FOR AN INDEPENDENT STATE. NEWS ABOUT AN ARAB INITIATIVE FOR A SOLUTION AND MOUSSA EXERTS HIS UTMOST EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE SITUATION IN PALESTINE. PERETZ PRESENTS A NEW PEACE PLAN BASED ON THE ARAB INITIATIVE AND THE ROADMAP. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the minister of foreign affairs, and his French counterpart Philippe Douste-Blazy held a meeting. Following the meeting, they briefed reporters on the issues they discussed and answered their questions. During the meeting, issues of common interest and developments at the regional and international arenas were discussed. Commencing the meeting with reporters, Prince Saud Al-Faisal welcomed the French Foreign Minister and his accompanying delegation, wishing them good stay. He said the position of the two countries were similar, if not identical, on the issues discussed during today's meeting. He said the kingdom welcomes Paris 3 conference on Lebanon, but reserves that it is important to pave the way for the Lebanese factions to reach a conciliatory draft for national unity. In this regard, we consider the Arab League's recent initiative an appropriate solution to the Lebanese crisis. On the Iranian nuclear issue, Prince Saud said we agree on the importance of making the Middle East a nuclear-free zone, including Israel. On Iraq, Prince Saud said we support any endeavour that aims at bringing about security and stability to the Arab country, based on its integral unity, sovereignty and independence. On Palestine, Prince Saud said the kingdom's position is that the recent escalation by Israel in Ramallah and Gaza further aggravates the situation, calling on the Palestinian factions to unify ranks to evade further deterioration that benefits the other side. On Somalia, he said that if the Ethiopian forces entered Somalia at the invitation of the Somalia government, we hope that such a move would not harm the sovereignty and independence of Somalia. He told reporters that the meeting did not deal with bilateral issues which are dealt with within the proper channels, describing them as doing well. On his part, the French Foreign Minister praised the French Saudi relations, describing them as distinguished and good. He said we discussed the best ways to help Lebanon to overcome the current difficulties. Both our countries are interested in making Paris 3 conference on Lebanon a success, he said. Commenting on a conference held recently in Paris for the rebuilding of Lebanon, the French minister said his government supports Lebanese sovereignty. "France stresses the importance of a sovereign Lebanon and the non-interference of outsiders," he said. "We fully support (Prime Minister) Fouad Siniora and his work and his government's work... We are encouraging the Lebanese government to implement economic reforms." He said his government was closely following efforts by the Arab League to end a standoff between the government and the opposition in Lebanon. He added that our opinions and view points on Iraq were identical. On the Iranian nuclear issue, the French Foreign Minister said Iran should meet the world requirements and play a positive role as regards the what is needed from it. On the Israeli issue, he underscored the importance of Israel's commitment to meet its obligations so that the Israelis and Palestinians move from words to deeds and underscored the importance of Palestinian unity. On the meeting between the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and a delegation of Hezbollah of Lebanon, Prince Saud said the meeting was held upon the request of the Lebanese party and the acceptance of the kingdom. It is not surprising that the monarch meets Hezbollah to discuss a Lebanese matter as the kingdom is neutral and never sides a Lebanese party at he expense of the others, he said, adding that it would have been surprising if the kingdom had rejected the meeting to take place. Prince Saud denied that the meeting of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah with Hezbollah officials meant the Kingdom was taking sides in the issue. "The meeting came following a request from Hezbollah," he said. "Saudi Arabia is a friend to Lebanon and all of its segments." Answering a question about Saudi mediation to resolve the Lebanese impasse, Prince Saud said the Lebanese would be better off solving their own differences. We wish that Lebanon is again stable through dialogue and rejection of violence, he said in response to a question on whether there are signs of a breakthrough in the offing for the Lebanese crisis. The Prince stated that Iran's Secretary General for National Security Ali Larijani has postponed his official visit to the kingdom, which has been scheduled for today, upon his request for personal reasons. Asked to comment on remarks made by Iran's Foreign Minister during a television interview three weeks ago calling for a Saudi Iranian direct dialogue on the Lebanese and Iraqi files, Prince Saud regretted that he did not see the event on TV. However, it is much important to arrange dialogue among the Lebanese themselves rather than between Saudi Arabia and Iran as the two countries are not directly involved or in charge of the Lebanese issue, Prince Saud said. French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said that France was not calling for a withdrawal of US-led troops in Iraq. "France has never called for a withdrawal of foreign troops in Iraq," he said. "These troops are there based on a UN resolution," the French minister said. Douste-Blazy said the escalation of violence in the war-torn country, where an estimated 100 to 130 Iraqis die each day and 1.6 million people have been displaced, was "worrisome". The minister said that France stressed the importance of a return to a "sovereign Iraqi nation" where all sectors representing Iraqi people would participate in the government. This, he added, "would curb terrorist groups." On the issue of Palestine, the French foreign minister said it was "time for action rather than words", adding that Israel should adhere to international resolutions. Prince Saud denied an Arab satellite channel report that quoted a British newspaper as saying that an alliance would be formed between Saudi Arabia, the United States and Israel to hit Iran. "This is ridiculous," said the prince. "Saudi Arabia will never take part in attacking another Islamic country and cooperating with Israel." Prince Saud said that he and Douste-Blazy also discussed the Iranian nuclear program and its possible risks to the region, especially when the region is witnessing several conflicts. "Therefore we have agreed on the importance of ridding the region of all nuclear weapons, including those of Israel, and that doing so should be through diplomacy and dialogue." He also said that the two ministers discussed the situation in Somalia and agreed that if the Ethiopian troops entered Somalia on an invitation from the government, it was welcome, but if not, then the sovereignty of the country should be respected. France's foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, had arrived in Riyadh. At King Khalid International Airport, he was received by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, France's Ambassador to the kingdom Charles Henri d'Aragon and a representative of the foreign ministry's protocol department. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, received a delegation of Harvard University which is currently on a visit to the Kingdom. During the meeting, Prince Saud briefed the delegation on the Kingdom's vision of the Saudi-American relations, the firm stand of the Kingdom towards countering all forms of terrorism, the measures taken by the Kingdom in this field and the Kingdom's stand and policy towards regional and international issues. Later, Prince Saud Al-Faisal received here Iceland's Parliament President and the accompanying delegation. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries as well as ways to strengthen and develop them. They also discussed regional and international issues of common concern. Also, Prince Saud Al-Faisal received the Hungarian Ambassador to the Kingdom who came to bid him farewell on the occasion of the end of the Ambassador's term. The meetings were attended by Foreign Affairs Ministry senior officials. On the other hand the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization rejected any transitional solutions for long term truce with Israel, including the "State with Temporary Borders" the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reported. The committee "welcomed the initiative to resume the national dialogue to form a national unity government within two weeks." It said that earlier elections should be the alternative in case the national unity government is not formed. Meanwhile, President Mahmoud Abbas told top officials from his Fatah party that he intended to go ahead with his plan to call early elections -- a move rejected by Hamas when it was first announced in mid-December, sparking internecine bloodshed. "I will not go back on holding early parliamentary and presidential elections," Eissa Karaqaa, a senior Fatah official in Bethlehem, quoted Abbas as telling the Fatah closed-door meeting. "This plan is not a tactic. All paths to forming a government of national unity are closed and there is no other choice except these elections," Abbas said, adding that Fatah should "prepare" for the polls. President Abbas first issued his call for early polls on December 16, sparking armed clashes between Fatah and Hamas supporters that killed 15 people in Gaza before a truce was reached four days later. Simmering factional tensions boiled over into armed clashes again last Wednesday, killing 16 people and wounding more than 70 others since then. Abbas demanded that Hamas disband its interior ministry's "executive force," saying it was illegal and should be integrated into existing security structures. "The executive force (controlled by Hamas) is illegal... and will be treated as such if it is not immediately integrated... into legal security services as stipulated by basic law," said a statement from the presidency. Hamas slammed Abbas's call as a "mistake", warned against a crackdown, and declared that it intended to more than double the size of the 5,500-strong armed force, taking it to 12,000 men. "It's not true that the executive force is outside of the security services," Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, said in Gaza. "It works legally according to the orders of the interior ministry." Meanwhile the Palestinian group Fatah staged a massive show of strength in its fight against the governing Hamas movement. Tens of thousands of Fatah supporters thronged the Al-Yarmouk Stadium to celebrate the 42nd anniversary of the group. Mohammed Dahlan, Fatah's man in Gaza was given a hero's welcome as he entered the stadium. As he began speaking he shooed away the security guards protecting him. "Let Hamas shoot me," he said as the crowd erupted in applause. Fatah gunmen fired in the air during his speech. The gathering was the largest Fatah demonstration in Gaza since 1994, when Yasser Arafat returned triumphantly to Gaza from exile in the framework of a partial peace deal with Israel. The demonstration came as masked Fatah gunmen released a video of a kidnapped Hamas official, threatening to expand attacks against Hamas if it rejects calls to disband its militia in the Gaza Strip. Although the demonstration marked the anniversary of Fatah, it was meant to send a clear message to Hamas, which has defiantly rejected Fatah's calls to outlaw the Gaza militia. At the demonstration, a sea of yellow Fatah flags fluttered in the wind, and dozens of gunmen were among the crowd. Roads in southern Gaza were packed with motorists trying to reach the stadium. In his speech, Dahlan called Hamas' deadly assault on the home of a Fatah security commander a turning point. "If they think the murderers will not be punished, they are mistaken," said Dahlan, who wore a black and white headdress around his neck. "If they attacked one Fatah person, we'll attack two more." Responding, Hamas lawmaker Salah Bardawil called Dahlan's speech "defamation" that served the interests of Israel, not the Palestinian people. He said Hamas knew Fatah is well armed, but Hamas was "not afraid," and he hoped the weapons would be used "against the occupation (Israel) and not against Hamas." Fatah and Hamas have been locked in a bloody struggle for control of the Palestinian government since Hamas won parliamentary elections last year. The victory ended four decades of Fatah political domination, though the group still controls the powerful Palestinian presidency. On the other hand Defence Minister Amir Peretz, facing internal challenges to his position as leader of the Labor Party, presented his own peace plan, calling for talks in six months with the Palestinians on a peace treaty and an agreement two years later. In a statement, Peretz called his plan 'the new roadmap,' altering the existing internationally backed roadmap plan that has been on the table since 2003 but has never been implemented. Peretz would negotiate only with Palestinian moderates, like President Mahmoud Abbas, saying his plan would strengthen them by offering 'a diplomatic option.' Like the original, the Peretz roadmap has three stages, and like a plan presented last week by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, it bypasses difficult aspects of the first stage and heads quickly into second-stage peace talks. The third stage, according to all the plans, is negotiations for a final peace agreement. Presentation of the peace plans is seen as part of their campaigns for the top posts in their parties. Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator, said the Peretz proposal is an 'Israeli internal matter.' "This is internal Labor business. We want all the Israeli government, in all its composition, to come back to the negotiating table and proceed with final status negotiations," he said. Peretz's plan skips over those requirements, calling instead for a six-month period of 'creation and stabilisation of a new security and economic reality." The second stage of the Peretz plan is six months of negotiations over principles of a peace treaty, while extending Palestinian sovereignty over large areas of the West Bank. In the final stage, Peretz foresees 18 months of talks toward a final peace treaty. Meanwhile the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called on the Palestinians to stop infighting. In reply to a question by MENA, Mubarak said that he was gravely concerned over the Palestinian infighting as well as abductions and incitements in the occupied territories. He called on leaders and cadres of the Palestinian factions to respect the sanctity of the Palestinian blood and to stop infighting. Mubarak also called on the Palestinian leaders to work together to assuage the suffering of the Palestinian people and to meet their aspirations for independent state. To this, the Secretary General of the Arab League Amre Moussa held intensive contacts with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya through which he expressed concern about the recent developments between Hamas and Fatah. Ambassador Mohamed Sobeih said the AL and its Secretary General followed up with utmost concern the developments on the Palestinian arena. He added that that there are contacts and consultations with several Arab foreign ministers to reach agreement on the Arab movement on the crisis. Sobeih revealed that Amre Moussa is thinking of putting many of the ideas to the Palestinian side to come up with a specific initiative, but said that the case was the responsibility of the leadership and that there was no winner between the two sides, pointing out that the factions have become preoccupied with what happened and left the killings and destruction and violation of holy sites. Asked whether the ideas would be to activate the previous proposal of the Secretary-General of the Arab League to convene an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers or the Arab summit to deal with the Palestinian situation Sobaih said all proposals remain and are with the Secretary-General, who is currently conducting consultations to enable the AL to move on. A senior official of the League of Arab States announced that the Arab League and its Secretary General Amre Moussa are working to crystallize an Arab initiative and is consulting with some Arab capitals for a resolution to heal the rift between Palestinian factions, stop the security problems in the Palestinian arena and end the political tension. Ambassador Mohamed Sobeih said in a press statement that the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Amre Moussa, is currently conducting communications and consultations and is thinking of putting many of the ideas to develop a unified Arab initiative and the specific steps and specific features to contain the situation and save the Palestinian issue. He stressed that the current differences will not lead to any victory and and the enemy will remain in the Palestinian cities and villages killing citizens, confiscating Palestinian land. He stressed that the Palestinian cause is in danger. Sobeih said that the Arab League is following with concern and fear what is happening on the Palestinian arena in view of the gravity of the whole Palestinian issue, stressing that the Arab League does not accept at all what is happening on the Palestinian street. The Arab League renewed its appeal to all Palestinian factions and the presidency, the government and the Palestinian citizens to assume their responsibilities and protect the Palestinian cause of this situation that reached the extent of insanity. Sobaih stressed that he will not anticipate the events, but the Secretary-General of the League of Arab's consultations and contacts with the a large number of Arab capitals and Arab foreign ministers to determine the form of what will be done. Sobeih said this is all due to the absence of mind on the Palestinian arena and affirmed that the Arab League would not stand idle on this issue, which is the concern of every Arab and it is absolutely unacceptable to destroy this issue in this way. On another development top European Union foreign policy official Javier Solana met with new U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, calling the discussion a warm exchange of hearts and minds in which he stressed a revival of the Middle East peacemaking Quartet. Within the Middle East, I'd like to insist as strongly as possible that we have to tackle the peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians, Solana said. I hope very much that Ban will play an important role in the Quartet, comprised of the United States, the European Union, Russia, and the United Nations. This must be for us the priority of great significance during this period of time, Solana told reporters.. Responding to a question from S.P.A., Solana said that he would involve regional players such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt in future talks with the Quartet. Solana confirmed that there would be a Quartet meeting towards the middle of January, most probably in Paris around the Lebanon donors conference, which is scheduled to take place on January 15th. |
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