WASHINGTON, 20 May 2006 — US President George W. Bush held talks here yesterday with Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal on issues of mutual concern, including counterterrorism, military cooperation, energy matters and regional foreign policy. Saudi Ambassador to the United States Prince Turki Al-Faisal and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attended the meeting. The two sides expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved at the Saudi-US strategic dialogue.
“I came out fully convinced that the president is doing everything that he can to bring stability and security to the Middle East,” Saud told reporters in the White House driveway before departing.
The foreign minister had previously criticized the Bush administration’s decision to shut off aid to the Palestinian government and isolate its new Hamas leadership, saying that would only radicalize a destitute population and set back the cause of peace with Israel.
In a joint statement issued after the dialogue session, both countries reiterated the importance of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East. They expressed opposition to unilateral steps taken by any one party that could undermine the peace process, and pledged to work toward providing aid to the Palestinian people through proper channels.
Referring to Iran’s nuclear program, the two countries expressed concern about the threat of nuclear weapons proliferation in the Gulf. Saud reiterated the position of the Gulf Cooperation Council that the entire region should be free of nuclear weapons. “Both the US and Saudi Arabia called on Iran to work with the international community,” the statement said.
On Iraq, both countries agreed that a stable, democratic, unified, pluralistic and prosperous Iraq is in the interest of all. They expressed the hope that the new Iraqi government would preserve the unity, identity and territorial integrity of the country.
