JEDDAH, 10 March 2008 — On the eve of a landmark visit to Doha today to bolster Saudi-Qatari relations, Crown Prince Sultan yesterday emphasized the deep-rooted relations between the two countries.
“Saudi-Qatari relations are governed by blood ties and a common destiny. They are not the product of a day, nor the result of emerging circumstances, but a true expression of deep-rooted ties that have existed for decades,” he said in an interview with Qatar’s Al-Sharq newspaper.
The crown prince will meet Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad ibn Khalifa Al-Thani, Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al-Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad ibn Jassem Al-Thani during his three-day visit.
He told the newspaper that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Sheikh Hamad were doing their best to strengthen cooperation between both countries.
He added that King Abdullah’s visit to Qatar last year to attend a GCC summit reflected the strong relations that the two countries enjoy. “When I am in Doha, I feel I am among my people and my brothers. The mutual relations between our countries and people can survive any external and foreign influences. Our relations will never be severed,” the crown prince said.
In his interview, the crown prince called on Palestinian groups to stand united against their common enemy. “The unity of the Palestinians is the first and essential step on the march to restore legitimate Palestinian rights,” he said, describing Israeli atrocities as a flagrant violation of international law and human rights.
He added that the Arab peace initiative, which was proposed by King Abdullah, aims to promote peaceful coexistence, restore Arab rights, end the Arab-Israeli conflict and establish justice. He said the initiative was instrumental in uniting the voice of the Palestinians and other Arabs, adding that it would remain a basic reference for Arab-Israeli peace negotiations.
Asked whether Saudi Arabia would respond to the Iraqi prime minister’s call urging Arab countries to open their embassies in Baghdad, the crown prince said: “The Kingdom has already expressed its desire to open its embassy in Baghdad and sent a team to study the possibility for this. We’ll open the embassy soon after completing organizational measures.”
Further, speaking about the nuclear standoff between Iran and the US, the crown prince said all countries must abide by international regulations preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. He hoped the crisis would be resolved peacefully and defended the right of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to acquire nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
The crown prince also highlighted the tremendous economic progress achieved by the Kingdom in recent years, adding that it would have a positive impact on other GCC countries. “We feel that our country is making big strides as a result of its human and material resources,” he said.
The crown prince is expected to receive a grand welcome on his arrival at Doha International Airport today. His talks with Sheikh Hamad will focus on several international issues, including Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon.
The two leaders will also explore ways of strengthening political and economic ties.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom’s new ambassador to Qatar, Ahmed ibn Ali Al-Qahtani, presented his credentials yesterday to Qatari State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ahmed ibn Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, the Saudi Press Agency said.
