RIYADH, 19 November 2002 — Saudi Arabia yesterday welcomed Iraq’s decision to accept UN Security Council Resolution 1441 and allow the return of UN weapons inspectors. It expressed hope that the Iraqi move would end the current tense situation and drive away the specter of war from the region.
The comment was made by the Council of Ministers, which met here under the chairmanship of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd. The Cabinet urged Baghdad to cooperate fully with the weapons inspectors and facilitate their mission in the country.
Speaking to Saudi Press Agency after the meeting, Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy said the Cabinet also called upon the United Nations to implement all resolutions pertaining to the Palestinian issue and take necessary measures to force Israel to comply with such resolutions.
King Fahd briefed the ministers on the outcome of his recent talks with King Abdallah of Jordan and President Bashar Assad of Syria, saying the talks focused on major Arab, Islamic and international developments, and the Palestinian issue.
“The Cabinet denounced Israel’s military campaign against Palestinians without differentiating between civilians and militarymen,” Al-Farsy said, adding that the Palestinian operation targeted only Israeli military personnel and did not affect any Israeli civilians. The Cabinet approved the rules and regulations of Saudi engineers authority, which aims at improving engineering service in the country. The authority will have a general assembly comprising persons who have paid their annual membership fees. Its board will be chaired by the commerce minister.
