JEDDAH, 28 November 2005 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has said that Saudi Arabia helped broker a deal between Syria and the United Nations over the questioning of five Syrians about the killing of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri. In a wide-ranging interview published yesterday by Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News, King Abdullah said Saudi Arabia would remain a “source of goodness for the whole world”.
King Abdullah said he proposed to French President Jacques Chirac and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that a UN team question the Syrian officials in Geneva or Vienna, rather than in neighboring Lebanon.
“I sent Prince Bandar ibn Sultan on special missions to Paris and Damascus. ... He flew to Damascus to meet President Bashar Assad and they reached an agreement,” King Abdullah was quoted as saying.
He said he had instructed Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal to inform ambassadors of the five permanent Security Council members about the agreement.
“Questioning the Syrian officials in Lebanon would have been a humiliation for Syria and all Arab nations,” the king said expressing happiness over the success of the Kingdom’s quiet diplomacy.
King Abdullah said Iraq would need another five years to see stability. “I worry about what is happening in Iraq. ... Death does not differentiate between Sunni and Shiite,” he said.
King Abdullah said he had urged tribes in Iraq to stay out of the violence. He reiterated that Saudi Arabia would not interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq. “We know that mistakes have been committed in Iraq, leading to the present unstable situation,” he added.
The king lashed out at Al-Qaeda terrorists. “These people are seeking death and don’t know the meaning of jihad,” he said. “Before calling for jihad, let them pray to God first,” he told Al-Qaeda militants in the Kingdom.
He referred to the Kingdom’s successful campaign against terrorists. “But I don’t say that we have exterminated terrorism because it needs more time and effort.”
Referring to the extraordinary Islamic summit, which is scheduled to be held in Makkah next month, the king said it was aimed at strengthening Islamic unity and establishing a joint front against terrorists as well as terrorist ideologies and thoughts.
The Saudi leader called upon the international community to join the fight against terror. “We can finish off terrorism by forging an international coalition against these criminals,” he said.
The king also spoke about the historic relations between his country and the United States and his friendship with President George W. Bush. He praised the nobility and sincerity of President Chirac and his positive stands toward Saudi Arabia and Arab issues.
