JEDDAH, 1 April 2003 — Saudi Arabia yesterday renewed its call for an immediate halt to the US-led war on Iraq, saying the war is killing innocent people and causing untold misery as a result of the continuous bombardment by US/UK forces.
“The Council of Ministers followed with deep sorrow and concern the repercussions of the war on Iraq and its devastating effect on the people of Iraq and its resources, especially the killing of innocent people,” Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy said.
He said Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, who chaired the Cabinet meeting at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, called for an immediate end to the military operations against Iraq and settlement of the crisis peacefully within the framework of international legitimacy.
The Cabinet commended the support extended by Saudi scholars and people to the Kingdom’s leadership in the present circumstances. It also highlighted Riyadh’s efforts to avert war before it finally broke out two weeks ago.
“The meeting called upon peace-loving countries which uphold the principle of justice to take the initiative to stop the war quickly,” Al-Farsy told the Saudi Press Agency. The Cabinet emphasized the need to stop the killing of the Iraqi people and protect the Arab nation’s security and civilian institutions.
Referring to the situation in Palestine, the Cabinet observed that Israeli aggression against unarmed Palestinians — including assassination of their leaders and destruction of the Palestinian infrastructure — were on the rise since the world was preoccupied with the Iraqi crisis.
“We should not forget the Palestinian people, who are facing ferocious attacks from Zionist occupation forces,” the Cabinet said. It called for implementing UN resolutions related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The Cabinet instructed the Saudi Electricity Company to pay compensation for land appropriated for electricity projects by the General Electricity Organization. The meeting also banned the distribution of, or making changes to, real estate properties required by the government or private companies managing any of the public infrastructure facilities.
The ban also covers real estate sites through which electricity lines, water and sewage networks, railway lines and public roads pass.
The meeting authorized the finance and national economy minister or his deputy to sign an agreement with the Philippines for the protection and promotion of mutual investments.
