Ongoing building and expansion of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territories and oppression of the Palestinian people still pose a grave danger to the Mideast peace process, said, Foreign Minister, Prince Saud Al-Faisal in Riyadh on Tuesday. Prince Saud was addressing a joint press conference with the visiting European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana in Riyadh. Solana was on the second leg of a Middle East tour to discuss relations between the EU and countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Describing the Mideast peace process as “a great source for concern,” Prince Saud identified maneuvering and procrastination on the part of Israel as the most significant obstacles in making any progress in the peace process. “We are witnessing today one of the most dangerous consequences of this policy manifested in the escalation of attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank,” he said. Contradicting all the assurances made at the Annapolis Conference, Israeli actions pose a hurdle for the establishment of a Palestinian independent state, he said. Commenting on the interest in the Arab-peace plan voiced by the Israeli head of state, Prince Saud said it was “better late than never.” “We hope the new prime minister will go in the same direction to peace,” he added. On the Afghan front, Prince Saud said “At the request of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the Kingdom has led an attempt with the Afghan parties to put an end to the fighting in Afghanistan and restore security, stability…and rebuild the country.” The two sides had reportedly held three days of talks in Makkah during the run-up to the end of the fasting month of Ramadan on September 29. But Prince Saud warned that any further mediation and talks would require a willingness and readiness by the warring Afghan factions to lay down their arms and embrace the political process. Any future mediation, however, would depend on the Afghans showing a genuine desire for peace, he said. Speaking on the nuclear file, Prince Saud called for complete disarmament of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction in the region by Iran as well as Israel. This is the best way to solve the region's nuclear question, he said. Prince Saud appreciated EU's efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to the growing controversy over Iran's pursuit of nuclear technology. Prince Saud urged Iran to respond positively to Solana's efforts to ensure that Tehran is not building nuclear weapons and to keep away from using the logic of confrontation. The region, however, has the right to a peaceful use of nuclear energy, he said. On the Syrian-Lebanon issue, Prince Saud said that the Kingdom is hopeful of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between Syria and Lebanon for a more balanced and equal relation. Commenting on mediation efforts to mend the rift between Saudi Arabia and Syria, Prince Saud said that the Kingdom and Syria share a long history and common interests and still maintain full diplomatic ties. No mending is needed; it is usual for disagreements to happen within the same family, he said. God willing, things will get back on track with no mediation.
