JEDDAH, 5 September 2006 — UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday met Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and sought Saudi support for the implementation of UN Resolution 1701 that led to the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon last month.
“I am here to seek strong support for Resolution 1701. It is imperative that we all join hands to implement it fully in order to help the people of Lebanon,” Annan told a crowded press conference at the Jeddah Conference Palace last night.
“Saudi Arabia is an important power. It has considerable influence in the region and around the world, and when it comes to resolving conflicts — whether Lebanon, the Palestinian one or for that matter Iraq — Saudi Arabia carries immense weight and we need to factor its opinion into whatever decisions we take while resolving these conflicts,” he said.
Annan said he had “very fruitful discussions” with the king and Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal and “we, at the United Nations, have resolved to work very closely with Saudi Arabia.”
The UN chief held extensive talks with the king on safeguarding Lebanon’s security and territorial integrity. The question of Shebaa Farms and the lifting of the Israeli air, sea and land blockade on Lebanon were also discussed.
King Abdullah made it clear that Palestine remains the core issue needing resolution for lasting peace in the region.
Annan agreed.
“I share what he said today about Palestine being the key issue. I also agree with what Prince Saud said about the lifting of the Israeli blockade on Lebanon,” said Annan. “I myself have urged consistently that Israel lift the embargo and I hope it will be done sooner rather than later.”
At the press conference, Prince Saud noted there could be no reconstruction or rehabilitation for the displaced people of Lebanon before the blockade is lifted. He also acknowledged the support of the international community in seeing Lebanon rebuilt. He said the Saudi government’s stand is clear — it wants the sovereignty of the Lebanese government to extend all over Lebanon.
Annan said the current cease-fire was very fragile. “The cessation of hostilities, worked out on Aug. 14, has worked very well, but it is fragile,” said the UN chief. “We need to move as rapidly as we can. We need to consolidate it. And this is why we are pressing ahead with the rapid deployment of the international troops to assist the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Army to extend its writ throughout the south.”
When asked why Israel has still not withdrawn its forces from Lebanon, Annan said Resolution 1701 is quite clear: “As soon as the international forces take over the territory, Israel will have to withdraw its forces. The international force has to be substantial and credible to allay the fears of the Israeli government.”
Annan said that by the middle of this month there should be 5,000 international troops and 16,000 Lebanese soldiers on the ground in south Lebanon. “It will be a credible force and by the time of deployment Israel should be able to withdraw completely from Lebanon,” he added.
The UN secretary-general said an agreement had been reached between Israel and Hezbollah to negotiate the release of the two abducted Israeli soldiers that led to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. But he only referred to both Israel and Hezbollah as “the two parties” and refused to call it an agreement.
“I wouldn’t want to refer to it as an agreement, but I would want to say that both parties have accepted the good offices of the secretary-general to help resolve the problem,” said Annan. “I will work with the parties. I will designate someone to work discreetly and quietly with the parties.”
Annan, however, refused to divulge the name of the mediator. “I will not tell you the name of the person either today or tomorrow because I want him to be able to work discreetly. The only thing that I insisted on is that if I am going to use my good offices then my mediator should be the only mediator. If others get involved then we will pull out. You will get wires crossed. It will be very confusing. So there should be only one channel of communication.”
Minutes after the press conference, Israeli officials issued a statement in Jerusalem asking Annan to assist, not to mediate the soldiers’ release.
“A mediator is not needed,” an Israeli government official said. “The UN resolution (1701) determines that the soldiers will be released unconditionally. The UN secretary-general will assist and not mediate.”
Annan also condemned Israel’s use of cluster bombs during its invasion of Lebanon, noting the UN Human Rights Council also condemned the use of the weapons.
Answering a question from the media about the conviction of Homaidan Al-Turki by a US court in the maid abuse case, Prince Saud said: “The sentence (of 27 years to life in prison) was unfair.” He said Al-Turki’s lawyer would appeal the verdict.
The Saudi government, he said, was following up cases of Saudis detained in Guantanamo and other places. “We hope that they will be released and handed over to the Kingdom for us to try them for the crimes they committed,” Prince Saud said, adding that Saudi officials were in talks with American officials on the issue.
