JEDDAH, 17 August 2004 — Saudi Arabia yesterday expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation in Iraq and urged the United Nations to play a greater role to stop the bloodbath in the war-ravaged country.
The Council of Ministers, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, also backed Sudan’s efforts to contain the humanitarian crisis in the embattled Darfur region in the west of the country.
“The Council of Ministers expressed its deep regret over the deterioration of security in some Iraqi regions ... and calls for a greater role for the United Nations in seeking an end to the bloodshed,” the Saudi Press Agency said quoting a statement issued after the weekly Cabinet meeting.
The Cabinet hoped that the Iraqi National Congress would help find a way to put an “end to the fighting and concentrate on (finding) a political solution that would restore Iraq’s sovereignty and stability,” SPA said.
It urged all political and religious factions and ethnic groups in Iraq to support the interim government of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi in its efforts to bring about peace and stability in the country.
Referring to the continuing Israeli aggression on Palestinian cities and villages, the meeting called for “a firm international stand that would guarantee the rights of the Palestinian people in accordance with international law.”
The Cabinet also praised the “great efforts of the Sudanese government to contain the crisis in Darfur and its persistent effort to reinforce stability” in the impoverished region.
The Kingdom hailed Khartoum’s “cooperation with various parties and humanitarian organizations in dealing with the crisis,” the Cabinet statement said.
The meeting endorsed the general agreement with Bosnia-Herzegovina for cooperation in the economic, commercial, investment, technical and cultural areas as well as in sports and youth welfare.
The meeting authorized the Islamic affairs minister to sign a memorandum of understanding with Egypt for cooperation in Islamic and endowment affairs.
It also approved the protocol related to the headquarters of the International Energy Forum, based in Riyadh.
