JEDDAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah held talks here yesterday with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on major regional and international issues, including rising oil prices and the Middle East peace process.
“The talks focused on the latest regional and international developments, most importantly those relating to the Palestinian issue and the Middle East peace process, as well as the situation in Iraq, Lebanon and Sudan,” the Saudi Press Agency said.
Ban, who is on his second visit to the Kingdom since March 2007, also briefed the king on the United Nations’ efforts to find solutions to regional conflicts and crises.
He thanked King Abdullah for his contributions to UN aid projects, including a $500 million donation to the UN World Food Program to battle global food price problems. He also lauded the king for striving to help settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Lebanon crisis, and for an initiative to foster dialogue among Muslims, Christians and Jews.
King Abdullah, on his part, commended the United Nations for working to establish peace and security across the world. The UN chief’s visit follows Saudi Arabia’s announcement to host a conference of oil producing and consuming countries to discuss what it called an unjustifiable rise in oil prices.
Speaking to reporters in London earlier, Ban said the jump in oil prices was “a serious concern” to all.
“We need to address and then cope with rising food prices as well as rising oil prices, because, unless we properly manage these issues, this may create a cascade of all other challenges and prices, affecting not only social and economic (conditions) but also creating political instability,” Ban said.
He added that he looked forward to the oil conference, which is to be held on June 22 in Jeddah. Representatives of 38 countries, four international organizations and 30 oil companies are expected to take part in the conference.
(With input from agencies)
