NEW YORK, 24 September 2006 — Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal yesterday called for a quick and just solution to the protracted Arab-Israeli conflict. “It’s high time we reach just and comprehensive solution to this issue in the light of international law and UN resolutions,” he told the UN General Assembly.
He said the Palestinian-Israeli conflict could be settled through the establishment of two states living in peace. He pointed out that US President George W. Bush had called for a permanent settlement based on the establishment of two states in line with the concerned international resolutions and the Arab peace initiative.
Saud deplored the Israeli aggression on Lebanon and called for the immediate Israeli withdrawal from Shebaa Farms and return to the armistice agreement signed in 1949 by the two countries. He urged the international community to force Israel to pay reparations to Lebanon.
The Saudi foreign minister underlined the importance of making the Middle East region including the Gulf free from weapons of mass destruction.
He also expressed concern at sending international troops to Darfur without the consent of the Sudanese government, saying it could complicate the issue.
