Burt, who was on a day’s visit to the capital on Wednesday, spoke to Arab News at the residence of the British Ambassador Sir Tom Phillips.
“Peaceful protests should not be met by repression or violence,” Burt said, adding that the moves made by the Arab League should be strictly followed in the interest of the Syrian nation.”
“The Syrian government has lost its legitimacy. However, we trust and believe that the Arab League will exert its influence in the matter.”
“Arab nations, in this regard, should look at each other on what are they going to do about an Arab problem,” the minister said, noting that what is happening in Syria is “wrong” and “a matter of the deepest distress.
“The United Kingdom’s view of the Arab Spring remains clear. We support a process of peaceful reform, as there is no one model of governance, which is acceptable to all. The Arab Spring has emphasized that all states are different and consent for government is measured in different ways in different countries.”
Burt said that he was here in the Kingdom to renew the United Kingdom’s acquaintance and relationship with officials in Saudi Arabia.
In the morning, he met Mufleh Al-Qahtani, president of the National Society for Human Rights, and discussed issues related to human rights. During the meeting, the minister appreciated the granting of voting rights to women at the local elections and empowering Saudi women to become members of the Shoura Council as a step forward by the Saudi government.
The visiting minister also commended the GCC and the Kingdom for the initiative taken for the signing of the deal brokered by GCC states by Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
On Iran, he said the international community is greatly concerned about its nuclear program and human rights’ record. He insisted that Iran should cooperate with the international community to resolve these issues.
“We continue to appeal for a change. On the nuclear track, we appeal to the Iranian regime to enter in meaningful discussions with the E3+3, led by the EU that has offered open negotiations on all of Iran’s nuclear programs.”
He also said that the international community is sincere and genuine in its concerns over Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation treaty and it should abide by its rules and regulations, he added.
He also said that the United Kingdom unequivocally supported Saudi Arabia’s resolution before the 193 members of the UN General Assembly condemning terrorism in all its forms, and specifically deploring the alleged Iranian plot to kill the Kingdom’s ambassador in the United States.
The resolution, which was co-sponsored by more than 50 other member states, called upon Iran to comply with all of its obligations under international law — particularly in regard to cooperating with international efforts to bring those involved in the plot to justice.
In Egypt, he said, the government should hold elections without allowing further street protests.
Cessation of protests will facilitate to streamline the political process in the country, which could eventually lead to the election of a president by the people, he concluded.
Burt also attended a function at the British Council here before his departure to London.
