JEDDAH, 30 May 2007 — Crown Prince Sultan, the regent, yesterday held talks with Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul in Riyadh and explored ways of strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
“The talks focused on the latest global developments and ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted an official statement as saying.
Welcoming Gonul and his delegation, Prince Sultan noted the role played by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s visit to Ankara two years ago in taking Saudi-Turkish ties to new heights.
“The relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey are not mere relations between two countries. It’s a relation between two peoples,” Gonul said, adding that King Abdullah’s visit had given a big boost to bilateral relations.
Gonul said he considered his visit to Saudi Arabia as “a spiritual journey” being the land of the two holy mosques that are held in high esteem by the Turkish people.
Prince Abdul Rahman, deputy minister of defense and aviation, Prince Naif, interior minister, Prince Khaled ibn Sultan, assistant minister of defense and aviation for military affairs, Chief of Staff Gen. Saleh Al-Muhaya and other top officials attended the talks.
