LONDON, 1 November 2007 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has called upon the international community to take wise and bold initiatives in order to resolve global conflicts with justice before they drift into devastating wars. “Every conflict, even if complicated, can be resolved if we tackle it with a spirit of justice and impartiality,” the king said while addressing a banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night.
King Abdullah, the first Saudi king to visit the UK in 20 years, held talks here yesterday with Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Middle East peace, the situation in Iraq and Lebanon and bilateral ties.
The king and the prime minister later witnessed the signing of three bilateral accords: An agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion; a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in technical and vocational training; and another MOU for political consultations between the two foreign ministries.
While highlighting the UK’s lead in scientific progress, King Abdullah said Saudi Arabia was looking forward to expanding its cooperation with Britain in vital areas that would lead to the transfer of technology, education, training and scientific research. “We believe that any real progress must begin from developing and training human resources,” the king said.
Brown described Saudi Arabia as an important partner and ally in the Middle East in an interview with the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic daily, a sister publication of Arab News.
The prime minister said King Abdullah’s 2002 Arab peace initiative, which calls on Arab countries to make peace with Israel if the Jewish state withdraws from Palestinian territories, is an important framework for the US-sponsored Middle East peace conference. No date has been set, but Brown said Saudi participation was crucial at the peace conference which is expected to take place in Annapolis, Maryland.
“The Saudis have done more than many in recent years to get us to where we are today,” the prime minister told the Arabic daily. “We see an engaged Saudi role as key to helping bring about the success of this.”
At the banquet hosted by the queen, King Abdullah suggested that the peace talks were a priority for him as well. “I am confident we will find from your majesty’s government every help to end the tragedy suffered by our Palestinian brethren through genuine peace to protect the rights of all parties,” the king said.
In the newspaper interview, Brown said the international community needed Saudi support in its efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. “Saudi engagement on the Iranian nuclear issue is critically important,” Brown said.
Earlier, Brown shook hands with the king on the steps of his Downing Street home before inviting him inside for talks. Britain sees Saudi Arabia as a key partner for economic ties, Middle East’s stability and combating extremism.
Before the talks at Downing Street, a spokeswoman said Brown would “raise issues he believes to be appropriate” with the king. “We have a new king in Saudi Arabia and a new prime minister here, so this is an auspicious moment to mark the strength of the relationship between our two Kingdoms,” a senior Foreign Office official said Monday. “The relationship we have with Saudi Arabia is in many ways one of the most important we have with any state. Certainly in the Middle East it is central to us.”
King Abdullah also met Prince Charles, heir to the throne, for private talks at Clarence House, his official residence. “The Prince of Wales has known King Abdullah for a number of years and has got to know him quite well,” a spokesman for Charles’ office said. “Given the significance of the UK’s relationship with Saudi Arabia in terms of things such as terrorism and trade, it’s an important connection.”
King Abdullah also met with the Conservative leader David Cameron and former Prime Minister Tony Blair. The king will attend an evening banquet given by the Lord Mayor and Corporation of London, which governs the city’s financial district.
Addressing the state dinner at Buckingham Palace, King Abdullah warned of “ominous signs of war and conflict” in the world, which must be faced with “wisdom and courage so that we may not slip into the abyss.” He also urged British Muslims “to be honest and upright Muslims and worthy British citizens.”
In her speech at the banquet, which was attended by more than 170 dignitaries including the prime minister, the queen spoke of the “shared values” of the two Kingdoms. “We also continue to work together against the terrorists who threaten the way of life of our citizens in both countries, and in the search for a more peaceful and stable Middle East, to the benefit of all its peoples,” the queen said in a brief speech.
King Abdullah is scheduled to visit Italy on the second leg of his current European tour, which will also take him to Germany and Turkey. The Vatican said yesterday that the king would meet Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday, in the first encounter between a Saudi monarch and a Roman Catholic pontiff. Abdullah will also meet Italian Premier Romano Prodi in Rome later Tuesday, Prodi’s office said.
According to Italian Ambassador Dr. Eugenio d'Auria, the Arab peace initiative, the need for inter-faith dialogue, regional crises and bilateral issues will top the agenda of the king’s talks in Rome.
The Italian envoy pointed out that the king is visiting his country at a crucial time when regional issues such as the Middle East process, situations in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Iran need attention. He said the two countries held common views on regional issues. “Our two friendly countries share a deep historical relationship that can be reinforced and developed to new horizons,” he said.
Giving the example of King Abdullah’s stance on issues in Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq and Gulf stability, d'Auria said his country would support these initiatives. Italy, he said, would exert all its efforts to ease tension in Palestine and try to accomplish improvements toward achieving an environment where Palestinians could live peacefully. The ambassador said King Abdullah will be given a red carpet welcome in Rome. During the monarch’s visit, a series of MOUs will be signed between the two countries.
Besides official talks with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Prodi, King Abdullah will also attend the second Joint Business Council meeting which will be held in Rome. The first meeting was held in Riyadh in April last year.
Bilateral trade between the Kingdom and Italy is valued at 6.7 billion euros.
—With input from Mohammed Rasooldeen
