RIYADH, 4 March 2007 — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived here yesterday afternoon on his first official visit to the Kingdom.
The president and his delegation were warmly received on their arrival at the Riyadh airbase by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. Also welcoming the president and his party were Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman, Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Mayor AbdulAziz Al-Ayyaf and other officials and senior princes.
King Abdullah, who took the Iranian president’s hand as they walked down the red carpet, was smiling and obviously happy to welcome the Iranian leader. Later in the day, the two leaders met for discussions.
The visit, in response to a request from the Iranian president, is an opportunity for Iran to discuss with the Saudi leadership several aspects related to tensions in the region, particularly the Iranian nuclear program which Tehran has strongly defended despite warnings from the European Union and the international community.
Prior to the Iranian president’s visit to the Kingdom, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said that the European Union was seeking new measures to punish Iran for its nuclear program.
Another major topic to be discussed between the king and Ahmadinejad is what Iran could do in Lebanon as well as what it could do to curb the violence in its neighbor, Iraq. Prior to his visit, the Iranian president said his country “was willing to help Lebanon” by participating to help restore peace there.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told Arab News last month that it was crucial that Iraq’s neighbors not interfere in the country’s domestic problems. He admitted that there was evidence of interference from some countries but he did not specify which ones. He did say, however, that his country was “holding Iran to its commitment” regarding its noninterference in Iraqi internal affairs but that the results of the policy would not be immediately evident.
The Kingdom, on more than one occasion, has called upon the international community “not to isolate Iran” in peace talks, emphasizing the peaceful role Iran could play in the region.
Foreign Minister Prince Saud said last month that the Kingdom shared Iran’s concern that the Islamic world was being divided into Sunni and Shiite by the spread of sectarian violence. When asked about a British newspaper report of a possible Israeli or American strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, he said the “Kingdom would never take part in striking an Islamic country.”
The Iranian ambassador to the Kingdom emphasized the importance of the Iranian president’s visit in improving Saudi-Iranian relations at all levels. “This visit has great importance,” said Ambassador Mohammad Hosseini. “Saudi Arabia and Iran are two Islamic countries which have significant regional and international importance,” he told the Saudi Press Agency.
“Relations between the two countries are developing and have progressed over time,” he added. He said that relations between the Kingdom and Iran were historic and explained that there were “many potential areas for greater cooperation between the two countries.”
The ambassador said that improving economic relations was also important, noting that the trade volume between Iran and Saudi Arabia was “not up to expectations.”
He said the fact that the Kingdom was one of the world’s leading energy-producing countries and that Iran had economic potential would allow both countries to seek areas for joint ventures. “What is important is that the leadership of both countries is determined to improve relations, especially in the economic field and in areas of joint ventures,” he added. Hosseini also said that tourism between the two countries was a sector which was “ripe” and could be further developed.
Cooperation in cultural activities is another area in which Iran and the Kingdom could cooperate. “The two countries have a great deal of common cultural grounds,” he pointed out.
