JEDDAH, 10 August 2004 — Saudi Arabia yesterday called upon the Iraqis to cooperate with the newly appointed interim Iraqi government of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi in order to restore peace and stability in the war-torn country and foil the efforts of those who try to destabilize Iraq and kill innocent people.
The Council of Ministers, chaired by Crown Prince Abdullah, also urged the international community to adopt a firm stand against Israel’s arrogance and denounced the Israeli atrocities on the Palestinian people.
“The Council called upon the Iraqis to overcome their present troubles and tribulations and work as one with the Iraqi government to achieve security and stability,” Culture and Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy said in a statement after the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jeddah.
Prince Abdullah briefed the ministers on the outcome of his talks and contacts with world leaders. He also commended the efforts made by the Saudi security forces in tracking down terrorists wanted in connection with terrorist attacks in Riyadh and other parts of the country.
The Cabinet statement emphasized that the Saudi forces would hunt down all terrorists with the support of citizens. Police last week arrested Faris Al-Zahrani, No. 11 on a list of 26 most wanted terrorists issued by the Interior Ministry last December.
Only 11 terrorists — nine Saudis and two Moroccans — on the list now remain at large as others have been either killed in clashes with security forces or surrendered to authorities in recent months.
The Cabinet also welcomed a statement issued by the Arab League on the Darfur crisis as well as the measures taken by Sudan to solve the problem on the basis of an agreement signed with the United Nations.
Arab foreign ministers, at an extraordinary meeting in Cairo on Sunday, rallied around Sudan in its bid to avoid UN sanctions over Darfur, and called for an extension to a UN-imposed deadline of 30 days to resolve the crisis.
The Kingdom emphasized that Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be honored. “The Council rejected any move for military intervention in Darfur or slapping economic sanctions on Sudan and urged the international community to give the Khartoum government enough time to carry out its commitments as per the agreement with the United Nations,” Al-Farsy said.
The meeting welcomed the announcement made in the Nigerian capital Abuja by the Sudanese government and the Darfur rebels to resume negotiations on Aug. 23.
Prince Abdullah also briefed the meeting on the outcome of his recent visit to Taif where he launched a number of development projects including the SR600 million Taif-Baha-Abha freeway project. “The people of Taif have expressed their appreciation for the services being rendered by the government for their welfare and progress,” he said.
The Cabinet appointed Prince Khaled ibn Saud ibn Khaled ambassador and Rehab ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Masoud, minister plenipotentiary at the Foreign Ministry.
