Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz has said that relations between Qatar and Saudi Arabia are too “deep-rooted and historical to be dictated by emerging developments in the region.” In an exclusive interview with Abdul Latif Al-Mahmoud, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of Al-Sharq newspaper, the Crown Prince said the bilateral ties were not the product of a day, nor the result of emerging circumstances, but a real expression of the depth of relations between the two countries which existed for long decades. Crown Prince Sultan will begin a three-day visit to Qatar Monday where he will hold talks with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani concerning events in the Gulf region and the Arab world. He said the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani were doing their best to strengthen cooperation in all fields and eliminate any obstacles that may hinder the relations between the two countries through their agreement signed last September. The participation of King Abdullah in the last GCC summit in Doha and the visit of the Emir to Riyadh were evidence of the strong relations between the two countries. “When I am in Doha, I feel I am among my people and my brothers. The mutual relations between our countries and peoples can survive any external and foreign influences. Our relations will never be severed,” he said. On withdrawal of the Saudi Ambassador in Qatar, Crown Prince Sultan said a new ambassador has been appointed and he has already started his job in Doha. The Saudi Press Agency said Sunday that ambassador Ahmed Bin Ali Al-Qahtani had taken up his post. The Crown Prince said the establishment of the Gulf Common Market has proved that the Gulf countries were moving in the right direction to achieve their declared goals. “Establishing the Gulf Common Economic Community is one of the main objectives of the GCC. It started gradually with the establishment of a Free Zone in 1983, then the Gulf Customs Union in 2003, and finally we declared the establishment of the Gulf Common Market in Doha in 2007. The establishment of the Gulf Common Market ensures that we move forward for implementing our targets with firm and sincere steps,” he said.Asked about the US-Iranian tensions on the nuclear issue, he said all countries must abide by international decisions and regulations to stop proliferation of nuclear weapons. The GCC has expressed its hope that the Iranian crisis would be solved through peaceful means. On the GCC states' desire to acquire nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Crown Prince Sultan said: “Acquiring peaceful nuclear technology according to international regulations and standards is a legal right for the GCC states. The GCC states seek development, not hegemony, through such technology. For this reason, the General Assembly of the GCC states asked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to prepare a primary feasibility study in this regard. This reflects the eagerness of the GCC states for making use of the nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.” __
