JEDDAH, 21 July 2003 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Syrian President Bashar Assad expressed the hope yesterday that a legitimate government in Baghdad, acceptable to the Iraqi people, would be formed soon.
The two Arab leaders also hoped the Iraqi people, under US-British occupation since April, would be able to achieve their ambitions of living a “secure and dignified life,” the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported.
A legitimate government in Baghdad would “ensure Iraq’s independence, unity and territorial integrity,” the two leaders said following official talks here, the agency said.
But the statement following the talks made no mention of the US-installed Governing Council in Iraq.
Riyadh has welcomed the Council as a positive step toward the establishment of a legitimate national government in Baghdad, while Damascus cautiously welcomed the first workings of the Council, calling it “a start that will be put to the test by the Iraqi people.”
The two neighbors of Iraq are seeking to expand the United Nations role in Iraq. Syria is a non-permanent member of the Security Council which meets tomorrow to discuss Iraq.
Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, and senior officials from both countries attended the talks. The crown prince also met with Bashar separately.
The two leaders also called for an end to the sufferings of the Palestinian people and for activating peace efforts in the Middle East in addition to boosting cooperation between the two countries. Assad arrived here yesterday on a one-day official visit.
