JEDDAH, 5 September — Prince Abdullah, the regent, yesterday held talks with Bahrain’s King Hamad on major regional developments and the Middle East peace initiative.
King Hamad, who arrived here earlier in the day, called for swift Arab action to stave off instability in the Middle East. He also urged exchange of views by Arab countries to adopt a joint Arab stand on US threats to attack Iraq.
The Saudi-Bahrain talks focused on "the Palestinian issue and the situation in the occupied territories as well as efforts under way to reach a just settlement in the region," the Saudi Press Agency said.
The two Gulf leaders also discussed "fast-paced developments in the Gulf region and exchanged views" on these developments, the agency added.
The talks at Al-Salam Palace was attended by Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, Prince Nawaf, director of intelligence, Prince Naif, interior minister, and other princes and high-ranking officials.
"Current developments on the Arab scene necessitate swift moves and exchanges of views aimed at formulating a joint Arab stand," King Hamad said in his arrival statement.
"Such a unified position was necessary to ward off the potential negative impact of these developments on Arab security, regional stability and world peace," he said.
Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are members of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, which on Tuesday declared its opposition to any strike on Iraq.
The GCC foreign ministers who were meeting here, however, urged Baghdad to readmit UN arms inspectors to avert an attack by the United States.
King Hamad and Prince Abdullah also discussed ways of boosting bilateral ties and issues of concern to the GCC, according to SPA.
The Bahraini ruler commended Saudi Arabia’s "positive role in backing just Arab and Islamic causes and in promoting stability in the region."
The king also noted Riyadh’s efforts to stabilize oil prices and its vital role in international politics.
In their statement Tuesday, the GCC foreign ministers denounced the "tendentious campaign against Saudi Arabia by some Western media," stressing that the Kingdom and its GCC partners were keen on assisting worldwide efforts to combat terrorism.
Prince Abdullah hosted a luncheon in honor of his Bahraini guest and his accompanying delegation.
Meanwhile, Prince Abdullah held talks with Don Poderian, a representative of the Canadian Parliament.
The meeting was attended by Saleh ibn Humaid, president of the Shoura Council, Dr. Muhammad Al-Husseini, Saudi ambassador to Canada, and Canadian Ambassador Melvin McDonalds.
