RIYADH, 20 April — Prince Salman, governor of Riyadh region, will inaugurate a seminar here today on Saudi-Palestinian relations.
The seminar is expected to host a number of senior diplomats, academics, political researchers, historians, social activists and scholars from Arab and Islamic countries. Guests attending will present their papers in the three-day seminar, said Dr. Fahd A. Al-Semari, secretary-general of King Abdul Aziz Historical Center. He said the event would highlight the plight of the Palestinians under Israeli occupation.
The seminar will cover a range of subjects with special reference to the latest developments in the region. Major topics that will be discussed are Saudi-Palestinian diplomatic ties, Israeli policy of intransigence, the Kingdom’s role in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, Saudi support for Palestine, the role of the international community as sponsors of the peace process and Jewish immigration and settlement on the Arab land.
Dr. Al-Semari said it was at the initiative of Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, that Arab leaders who had met in Cairo set up two funds worth a total of $1 billion to support the intifada. Saudi Arabia has offered to contribute $250 million to the funds. Also, at an international donors’ meeting in Stockholm last Wednesday, Saudi Development Fund donated $225 million to the budget of the Palestinian Authority.
The Council of Ministers has decided to waive custom tariffs for Palestinian goods imported to the country for one year.
