JEDDAH, 17 June 2007 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah begins a five-nation tour tomorrow with a two-day visit to Spain. The king’s Madrid talks are expected to focus on Middle East peace, Iraq and Lebanon as well as ways of strengthening bilateral ties.
This is Abdullah’s first visit to Spain since becoming king in August 2005. He is scheduled to arrive in France on June 21 on the second leg of the tour, which will also take him to Poland, Egypt and Jordan. He will be the first Saudi king to visit Poland, where he will arrive on June 24.
The king is currently vacationing in Morocco after an official visit to the Northwest African country. His talks with King Muhammad in Fez on May 19 opened a new era in Saudi-Moroccan relations. The two sides also signed five agreements aimed at strengthening political and economic cooperation.
Saudi Ambassador to Madrid Prince Saud ibn Naif said Spain gave great importance to the king’s visit. “This is the first visit by a Saudi king to Spain in 27 years,” said the ambassador. King Khaled, in 1980, was the last Saudi monarch to visit the European country.
“King Abdullah’s visit will be a turning point in political and economic relations between the two countries and between Spain and the Arab world,” the ambassador said, adding that the visit would witness the signing of several agreements including one for the avoidance of double taxation.
Saud said King Abdullah’s talks with King Juan Carlos of Spain would deal with world peace, especially efforts to speed up the peace process in the Middle East, the international drive to combat terror and attempts to stabilize the world oil market. “Saudi and Spanish ministers will hold several meetings to promote cooperation in the areas of energy, trade, education and tourism,” the ambassador said. King Abdullah’s delegation will include senior princes, Cabinet members and senior officials as well as a large number of businessmen. Prince Saud commended Spain’s role in finding viable solutions to outstanding issues in the Middle East and supporting peace and stability in the region. He expressed the Kingdom’s desire to increase the number of Saudi students pursuing higher studies at Spanish universities.
He hinted at prospects of expanding cooperation with Spain in tourism. “We are seriously thinking of creating a mechanism to strengthen cooperation in the tourism sector and setting up a joint committee to translate this desire into a reality.”
In another development, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday commended King Abdullah’s efforts to promote world peace and stability and his support for the United Nations and its affiliates. “King Abdullah has taken an effective role in the Darfur issue and this role has had a positive impact on the issue,” said the UN secretary-general addressing a luncheon hosted by the Kingdom’s permanent delegation to the UN in honor of Saudi Ambassador to the United States Adel Al-Jubair.
Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa, current president of the UN General Assembly, noted the Kingdom’s efforts under the leadership of King Abdullah in resolving issues in the Middle East and the Islamic world.
