RIYADH, 8 October — Saudi Arabia yesterday reiterated its opposition to the planned US military attack on Iraq. It said the attack would cause a human catastrophe and endanger peace and security in the region. It called for diplomacy and dialogue to avert a devastating war.
The Council of Ministers, which met here yesterday under the chairmanship of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, also expressed the Kingdom’s deep concern and anxiety over a recent US Congressional bill that recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy said the Cabinet discussed international developments and their consequences on the Middle East situation.
“The Cabinet expressed its deep concern over these developments, which will undermine peace and stability in the region and the world at large and trigger increased tension and instability,” he told the Saudi Press Agency. Al-Farsy said King Fahd renewed Saudi Arabia’s strong desire that diplomatic efforts and objective dialogue be given more chance to spare the region from the specter of war, which will lead to a human catastrophe and increase tension in the region.
The Cabinet meeting commended the White House statement which opposed a unilateral decision on Jerusalem by any party or member of the international community, saying that it would be detrimental to the peace process.
US President George W. Bush last week signed into law the 2003 Foreign Relations Authorization Act, passed by the US Congress, which called for the relocation of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The Cabinet welcomed the king on his return from abroad and wished him good health and long life. King Fahd returned home on Friday after a stay of four and a half months in Switzerland and Spain. The Cabinet meeting empowered Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation or his deputy to sign documents authorizing the Kingdom to join an agreement for international guarantee on transported equipment.
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal has been given the go-ahead to hold talks with Maltese officials to sign a memorandum of understanding between the two countries. Al-Farsy said the Cabinet authorized Higher Education Minister Dr. Khaled A-Anqari to sign a memorandum of understanding with Jordan for cultural and scientific cooperation. It also endorsed a road transport agreement with Syria. The Cabinet approved a number of measures to improve the condition of kidney patients. They include an increase in remuneration from SR30,000 to SR50,000 given to the relatives of the brain-dead for donating their organs to patients suffering from kidney failure. (Reuters)
