RIYADH, 19 July — The Shoura Council yesterday ratified a security pact with Iran to fight drug trafficking and terrorism, the Saudi Press Agency reported quoting Dr. Hamoud Al-Badr, the Shoura’s secretary-general.
The Shoura ratification of the agreement signed in April is required before approval by the Cabinet, headed by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd. Al-Badr said the pact would allow the two countries to jointly fight crimes, including the smuggling of drugs, weapons and goods, as well as forgery.
The agreement also involves “cooperation in exchanging information about criminals and expertise to contain terrorism and prevent crime,” Badr said.
Saudi Arabia and Iran inked the agreement during a landmark visit by Interior Minister Prince Naif to Tehran. The deal also touched on money-laundering, border surveillance and Gulf territorial waters.
The accord, which was signed in Tehran by Prince Naif and his Iranian counterpart Abdolvahed Mussavi-Lari, was a turning point in Saudi-Iran relations which improved after Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, visited Iran. Iranian President Muhammad Khatami met with King Fahd in Jeddah during a visit in 1999.
The two Islamic countries signed a memorandum of understanding last May to expand cooperation in scientific and higher education areas.
According to the terms and conditions of the MoU, Riyadh and Tehran will exchange scientific documents, films, publications, pictures and topics related to history, culture and geography.
The MoU, valid for a five-year period and will be renewed automatically with the consent of both sides, provides for holding cultural weeks, seminars and book shows in the two countries. It also encourages exchange of student delegations.
The two countries signed another agreement last month aimed at boosting cooperation in sports and youth affairs. The agreement, inked by Prince Sultan ibn Fahd, head of the Presidency for Youth Welfare, is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations.
On the commercial front, ties have been growing progressively. The Iranian mission in Riyadh has targeted to raise the two-way trade to the tune of $5 billion annually. Iran has waived visa requirements for Saudis and other Gulf nationals in a move to ensure greater freedom of movement and boost business and tourism ties.
The two nations have also worked together since 1999 to orchestrate the OPEC production cuts that brought oil prices back from 10-year lows.
