The five-nation tour by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah could hardly have come at a more crucial time. His visits to Spain, France and Poland are likely to prove of importance for both the crises in Palestine and the Lebanon as well as for the continuing agony in Iraq.
Concerning Palestine in particular, the Kingdom has played a consistently quiet but supportive role, the highlight of which was the Makkah Accord this February giving Fatah and Hamas the opportunity for a new beginning. It is characteristic of the determination of Saudi diplomacy that, even in the face of the setbacks of the past week, King Abdullah, together with Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf are continuing to explore new avenues which might lead to peace.
Until Hamas resolved upon its precipitate action in Gaza, the Europeans were edging toward a break with Washington’s rejection of any talks, first with Hamas as the elected government of Palestine and then with Hamas as a member of the short-lived national unity ministry. It will undoubtedly be part of Abdullah’s mission to urge the Europeans to continue the evolution of a more independent policy on Palestine and as a member of the international quartet to take the lead in pushing for a resumption of the moribund Middle East peace process.
In Paris, the Saudis will focus on ending the political deadlock in Lebanon where France, the former occupying power, still retains respect and influence. Once again, the proposals the mission will bring are likely to focus on the need for an alternative European analysis to that which has been so disastrously produced by Washington. The European leg of the mission will end in Poland, the first visit by a Saudi ruler to an Eastern European country in 75 years. Despite their military commitment to the US-led Coalition forces in Iraq, the Poles are not uncritical of Washington’s political and military misjudgments. Whatever their liking for the US, they are also dedicated Europeans. The royal party is therefore likely to meet with a sympathetic and understanding welcome in Warsaw. Besides which, this visit will also be a high-profile one because of the extraordinary popular reaction to Abdullah’s personal funding of a successful operation to separate conjoined Polish twin girls.
In each of these European countries, the parties will also discuss trade and business issues, including double taxation agreements. While the Kingdom remains a highly attractive market for Europeans, Saudis continue to expand their business interests in Europe, not least in petrochemicals. Abdullah and his party will conclude their tour in Egypt and Jordan where once again the three great crises in the region will form the burden of their talks. The great dangers we face can only be solved by mediation and negotiation — not by violence. It is therefore heartening to see the Kingdom playing a pivotal role in the search for peaceful resolutions.
