Following is the text of the statement with which Prince Saud Alfaisal began the press conference: I again welcome Mr. Miliband, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and the accompanying delegation. I think I speak in our name together in expressing happiness as we witness today the seed of the forum "Two Kingdoms' Dialogue" which was sowed four years ago as it is growing and prospering at the hands of our two countries' people and bearing fruit in boosting dialogue and cooperation between us in many fields for the benefit of the two friendly countries and peoples. I also would like to commend the United Kingdom's hosting of the recent Summit of the Group of Twenty and express hope that the summit's resolutions will be an incentive to restore confidence in the world economy, achieve its development and reform the international financial system especially in light of the unprecedented support adopted by the summit. In the context of political talks, we held today a joint talks session characterized as customary by frankness and comprehensiveness. During it, we discussed many important regional and international issues for our two countries. The issue of the Middle East had a great share of the talks especially in light of the developments at the Israeli and Palestinian scenes as well as the regional and international developments. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia believes that the negative remarks made by the new Israeli Government do not bode well for the peace process. The Israeli government's ignorance of the principle of international solution based on the establishment of two independent states as well as its ignorance of the Road Map, Annapolis understandings and other international legitimacy resolutions will return the peace process to square one. Hence, we believe in the importance of exerting efforts by the international community especially the United States to force Israel to adhere to the resolutions of the international legitimacy and references of the peace process including the Arab Peace Process. We also stress the necessity of Israel's ending of settlement and adherence to the resolution of the Security Council number 1860 by ending the policy of collective punishment and lifting the blockade on the Palestinians. More
