JEDDAH, 27 July 2004 — Saudi Arabia welcomed the outcome of the meeting of Iraq’s neighboring countries held last week in Cairo and expressed hope the transfer of power to the Iraqi government would help restore security and stability to the country.
Iraq’s neighbors expressed concern over deteriorating security conditions and agreed to set up a mechanism to help the Iraqi interim government restore law and order in the country.
The final statement issued by the foreign ministers from Iran, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Kuwait, in addition to Iraq and host country Egypt, reaffirmed the necessity of eliminating all terrorist and other armed groups at present emanating from Iraqi territory, as they constitute a danger to Iraq as well as the neighboring countries.
The statement also condemned all terrorist acts against civilians, government, humanitarian and religious institutions, as well as international organizations and diplomatic missions operating in Iraq.
The ministers emphasized the importance of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, good neighborly relations and the right of the Iraqi people freely to determine their future and called for a central role for the United Nations in Iraq.
The Council of Ministers meeting in Jeddah under Crown Prince Abdullah said the statement expressed the aspirations of Iraq’s neighbors for seeing security, stability and peace return to Iraq and for the country to play a positive role in the international arena.
In a statement after the meeting, Minister of Social Affairs and Acting Information and Culture Minister Dr. Ali Al-Namlah said the Council of Ministers regretted the differences and disputes among the Palestinians saying these would only serve Israeli interests. The Cabinet called on the Palestinians to cast aside their differences and close ranks during these trying times, said the statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
The Cabinet underscored the importance of the Palestinian people displaying solidarity especially in these difficult circumstances, uniting and reaching a common view.
“The Cabinet expressed regret over the differences and disputes among the Palestinians which would only benefit Israel and called on the Palestinian brothers to apply reason and unite them to focus on their main objectives which are confronting the Israeli enemy and not allowing Israel the chance to fish in troubled waters,” Al-Namlah said.
The Cabinet condemned the latest Israeli aggression against Southern Lebanon and renewed calls for the international community represented by the United Nations to rein in Israel and force it to abide by international laws. This includes the recent ruling by the International Court of Justice in The Hague that said the separation barrier built by Israel on occupied Palestinian lands was illegal and must be dismantled.
