TAIF, 14 August 2007 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday stressed the need for a government of national unity in Iraq that is acceptable to all Iraqis.
“It is a humanitarian and political necessity to bring Iraq out of its crisis with the help of a government of national unity acceptable to all,” the king said at the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers, which was held at Al-Hawiyyah Palace in Taif.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Madani said the Council of Ministers had reviewed the latest developments in the region including current international efforts to embark on serious discussions to find solutions for the tensions and violence in the region. The council particularly stressed the importance of meetings that deal with core issues.
“The Council of Ministers also underscored the significance of providing a favorable atmosphere for uniting the divided Palestinians, in addition to adopting the Arab peace initiative as the road to peace,” Madani quoted the council as saying.
The council also called for supporting the Sudanese government’s efforts to end the crisis in Darfur that threatens its national integrity and sovereignty.
On terrorism, Madani quoted the king as saying: “The terror leaders are trading in terrorism and luring the youth by creating various types of sectarian disturbances to disrupt the social cohesion in the region. However, all their efforts are bound to fail as they are against the people’s wishes and interests of having security, stability, harmony and development.”
Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, briefed the council on his recent visits and discussions with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Muhammad ibn Zayed Al-Nahayan.
The Cabinet authorized Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal or his deputy to sign a UN agreement on the use of e-mail for international agreements. The Cabinet also approved the recommendation of the governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority regarding an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Spain in the area of mutual investments. The agreement aims at the promotion of mutual investments besides offering legal protection for the investments.
Meanwhile a government announcement said yesterday that King Abdullah will participate in the washing of the Holy Kaaba this evening in the presence of princes, prominent religious scholars, government ministers and members of the diplomatic corps of Muslim countries.
