The Kingdom and Poland are to intensify military cooperation, Polish Vice Minister and Minister of Defense Tomasz Siemoniak, who wrapped up a day’s visit to the capital, told Arab News on Wednesday.

During his brief visit, the minister held talks with Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, and Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, minister of the National Guard.

The crown prince and the visiting minister discussed bilateral ties and the problem of peace and security in the region.

While describing bilateral relations as dynamic, Siemoniak said that following his visit to the Kingdom a new chapter will be opened between the two countries in the defense sector.

He specifically mentioned a memorandum of understanding which was signed between the two countries in December when Polish President Bronislaw Komorroski visited the Kingdom. During that visit, the two parties agreed to implement an accord on military cooperation regarding the training of Saudi personnel and promoting the Polish defense industry.

He said that the Polish president’s meeting with the top army officials was aimed at strengthening defense ties between the two countries. He hoped that his visit would steer the working committee to take the relations to new heights.

During the talks with Saudi officials, he said the topics which were discussed included the Iraq crisis and the Kingdom’s commendable stand on the problem, the Israeli-Palestinian issue, Iran acquiring nuclear capability and the problems in North Africa. “We also expressed our concern about the problem in Ukraine and the Russian impact,” he added.

He appreciated the efforts of the Kingdom’s leadership in maintaining peace and security in the region.

He said that he has invited the crown prince to visit Warsaw which was warmly welcomed by his counterpart. Such a visit would further strengthen the relations , he added.