RIYADH, 14 January 2007 — Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said here yesterday at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal that Italy called on Iran to play a role in solving many problems in the Middle East.
“We hope that Iran will be determined to solve regional problems since it is a large country with a significant influence,” he said. D'Alema also said that both Italy and the Kingdom agreed on the danger of isolating Iran from the international community. Both, he said, were determined to solve the Iranian nuclear crisis through “diplomatic efforts.”
Prince Saud reiterated that the Kingdom would not use oil as a weapon if Iran changed its strategies and an oil crisis was the result of its actions.
“We do not consider oil a weapon,” the prince said. “Oil is a resource used for the welfare of our people, and the people of oil-producing and oil-importing countries.”
The Saudi minister said the Kingdom welcomed security cooperation with Italy.
Both officials addressed the matter of the escalation of violence in Iraq. “We look forward to the upcoming visit of the US secretary of state to explain the new US strategy,” said Prince Saud. He said the Kingdom “was already involved in Iraq” and that Riyadh’s policies prevented it from interfering in another country’s domestic affairs.
The foreign minister warned of outside interference in Iraq, saying that the country’s security had been crippled and that the presence of armed militias and terrorist organizations was alarming. He said that all Iraqi people should be given equal rights.
D'Alema agreed with Prince Saud, saying, “It is in our interest that stability prevails in Iraq and that violence does not spread to the entire region.”
He said that Italy was confident that peace would prevail in Iraq if its religious militias laid down their weapons and the Iraqi Army was strengthened. Such developments, he said, would put an end to “anarchy.”
He added, “In addition, the Sunnis in Iraq should be completely merged into the system.”
By doing so, he said, Al-Qaeda would be beaten in Iraq and that circumstances would then possibly become conducive to peace and prosperity in the country.
The Italian official said his government supported what he referred to as “the US commitment in Iraq,” saying that Italy was an ally of the United States. He called on the international community to play a bigger role in rebuilding Iraq, saying that Italy was committed to training the Iraqi police and army, and pointed out that his country supported a “democratic Iraq.”
Concerning Lebanon, D'Alema said his country supported “economically and militarily” the government of Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. “It represents the true democratic face of Lebanon,” he said. He expressed the hope that the Arab League would help Lebanese political rivals to solve their problems.
D'Alema described resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as a “key to solving problems in the Middle East.”
Significantly, he also said, “The Arab countries should establish relations with Israel based on the plan suggested by King Abdullah in 2003.”
He said his government supported Arab efforts to bring about an agreement between all Palestinians, saying that efforts should be made “to break the freeze.” He pointed out that his government supported Arab calls for the establishment of a unified Palestinian government based on current circumstances.
“This Palestinian government should be ready to denounce violence and recognize Israel,” he said. “It should be ready to negotiate peace with Israel,” he added.
The deputy prime minister said that steps should be taken to improve the daily lives of Palestinians on Palestinian lands, noting that his government had called for financial resources to be returned to Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas), the Palestinian president.
Replying to a question about his government’s position on Israeli violations of international resolutions and the killings of innocent civilians, he said that Italy was quick to condemn whichever side resorted to violence.
“Israel has the right to live in peace. Palestinians also have the right of creating a country of their own. We should work on that front.”
Prince Saud lauded Italy’s role last year in hosting a conference in Rome aimed at stopping the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon. He also said Italian troops were part of the UNIVEL forces for peacekeeping on the Lebanese-Israeli border, according to UN Resolution 1701.
Earlier yesterday, the Italian minister signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf to avoid double taxation between Italy and Saudi Arabia. “This agreement will open economic opportunities between the two countries. It will also encourage commercial investments in Italy and Saudi Arabia,” D'Alema commented.
