JEDDAH, 19 September — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, held talks here yesterday with Syrian President Bashar Assad on major Arab and international developments and strengthening bilateral cooperation. The talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah were attended by top Saudi officials including Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, Prince Nawaf, director of intelligence, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, foreign minister, and Prince Ahmad, deputy interior minister.
“During the meeting, King Fahd and President Bashar reviewed the current developments at Arab, Islamic and international levels and discussed ways of strengthening cooperation between the two countries,” the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
Crown Prince Abdullah later held a separate meeting with the Syrian president and discussed major global developments, the agency said. Earlier, Bashar was received at Jeddah airport by Crown Prince Abdullah, Prince Sultan, several other princes and high-ranking officials. Bashar later left the Kingdom.
Saudi daily Al-Watan reported yesterday that Bashar’s visit was part of the ongoing contacts between Arab leaders to coordinate a stand regarding the American response to last week’s terror attacks and its effect on the Arab world, as well as to discuss the Arab role in the international campaign to fight terrorism.
In a related development, Riyadh announced yesterday that Foreign Minister Prince Saud will start an official visit to the United States today to meet with President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell.
The SPA said Prince Saud will convey the condolences of King Fahd, Crown Prince Abdullah and the Saudi government and people to the US president, American people and families of the attack victims.
