Observers and officials are attaching considerable importance to the Saudi-US summit scheduled to take place Wednesday in Janadriya outside Riyadh, since it is the first official visit by US President Barack Obama to the Kingdom. The visit comes at a delicate and crucial time in the light of the global economic crisis and political changes sweeping the international political scene. The two leaders are expected to discuss several crucial issues, foremost of which is the faltering peace process in the Middle East, the internal Palestinian situation, and current circumstances in Iraq. Discussions will also seek ways to boost the strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and the US, bilateral anti-terrorism efforts, and address the Iranian nuclear issue. An official source at the White House described the Kingdom as “a strategic partner to Washington” and President Obama as “keen to listen to the King's vision on regional issues, especially his vision for the peace process in the Middle East.” Secretary General of the OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said the Islamic world would follow up the Riyadh Summit and the President's speech to the Islamic world carefully. Amr Moussa, Secretary General of the Arab League, said the US President's visit to Riyadh and Cairo aimed to establish solid relations between “two heavyweight countries in the region and mark a new era in relations between the US and countries in the region.” Moussa has urged the American administration to exert greater pressure on Israel to honor its commitments and signed agreements, notably the principle of land for peace and the Arab peace initiative as a foundation for a comprehensive and lasting settlement. Moussa has said that the Arab World is looking for a genuine breakthrough in the Arab-Israeli conflict. President Barack Obama is accompanied on his historic visit by a high-level delegation comprising State Secretary Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and a number of senior officials.
