RIYADH: The Saudi Embassy in Athens, which saw two of its diplomatic cars damaged during the recent troubles in Greece, is safe and has reported no damage during the unrest.

“The embassy, which has now opened after the Eid Al-Adha break, is far from the troubled area,” Saudi Ambassador to Greece Saleh Mohammed Al-Ghamdi told Arab News yesterday.

According to Al-Ghamdi, the riots in Athens had eased but demonstrations will likely continue. “We offered our Eid prayers inside the Saudi Embassy mosque in the Greek capital,” he said.

Referring to the volatile situation which is now returning to normal, he said: “The diplomats have no problems in terms of movement, and as I speak to you, I am on the way to Athens airport to receive an Arab diplomat.”

He said the simmering discontent and anger remain high as further demonstrations have been planned for next week. School and university students as well as teachers have been organizing rallies and demonstrations against the shooting by police of a 15-year-old student in Athens last week.

Referring to the visit of Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal to Athens last month, Al-Ghamdi said the minister was received by Greek President Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis. He appreciated Greece’s continuing interest in the Middle East peace process, a subject which figured prominently in Prince Saud’s talks with Greek officials.

Greece, he said, had supported the Saudi initiative to restore peace and stability in the Middle East from the very outset. The two countries, he said, “shared common approaches on a host of regional and international issues of common concerns.”

Greece has a special interest in the Middle East because of its geographic position and its economic and historic ties to the area. In July 1997, December 1997 and July 1998, Greece hosted meetings of Israeli and Palestinian politicians to contribute to the peace process.

On the commercial front, Riyadh and Athens have forged closer ties. The Kingdom has emerged as Greece’s largest oil supplier. Athens holds major opportunities for Saudi businesses, while the country also serves as the ideal gateway to business in southeast Europe.

Saudi oil sales account for the overwhelming bulk of bilateral trade; however, there has been steady year-on-year growth in the volume of imports from Greece.