RIYADH: The Arab world faces a number of political and economic challenges that need to be addressed with carefully laid-out plans and measures, said Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in an interview with Saudi Channel 1. He was speaking just before the second Economic Development and Social Summit, Wednesday at Sharm El-Sheikh. He said economic cooperation was essential for Arab countries to face political and all other challenges. He said he was not leading efforts to defuse political tensions in Lebanon. “I am not leading it. King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is the one who is leading these efforts.” Prince Saud said the King met face-to-face with the Syrian president to commit to measures that “put an end to all problems in Lebanon. But when this did not happen, King Abdullah withdrew from all these agreements”. Prince Saud said that if the situation is not resolved in Lebanon this could lead to “secession and division” of the country, which would be a “great loss to the entire nation”. He said Lebanon has been a model of “peaceful cohabitation between religions and different sects and factions”. On the situation taking place in Tunisia and other North African states over poverty and unemployment, Prince Saud said, “We heard from the Tunisian foreign minister about the situation in Tunisia. The Kingdom has distinctive relations with the Tunisian people.” He said he hoped the Tunisian people would realize their aspirations for stability, development, progress and freedom. About the decision of the Economic Summit for the reconstruction of Gaza and difficulties faced by the Israeli siege, he said Arab countries would not give up their support for the Aqsa Fund, which has been running for years. It is the responsibility of the United Nations to allow this aid to get into the occupied land, said Prince Saud. He said work is continuing on the timetable set for sea and land links between Arab countries and cooperation on food and water security. “For example, work in the Kingdom is in full swing on the railway line linking it to some Arab countries, in addition to the unified electric grid and sea link. The Arab countries are giving due attention to these matters and there is great understanding among them about these economic projects. There is a strong will that these projects must finish as soon as possible.” About the situation in Iraq and the next Arab Summit, he welcomed the news that a government has been formed in Baghdad although the process has taken a long time. “We hope that this government will achieve the purpose for which it has been formed, which is the country's unity. It is not possible that there will be [total] understanding and agreement on the political issues because the political positions differ between parties. Still, there must be consensus on fundamental issues such as the unity of Iraq and independence and sovereignty of its land.” There should also be “non-interference by foreign countries in the internal affairs of Iraq. If the government agrees on these principles and works for them and ensures the equality of all Iraqis before the law, this by definition will lead to the country's stability. I hope Iraq will succeed in this”. He said that the referendum in southern Sudan has taken place without any major escalation of violence, contrary to what some people have predicted. He said he hoped this situation would lead to “fruitful cooperation between the new state and Sudan. Because no doubt this is going to be in the interests of the two countries”. He said the Kingdom's message to the world has always been serious, credible and transparent. This is the manner of King Abdullah in every matter. If the Arab League follows these principles, it will succeed in all its efforts, he added.
