Riyadh, Vienna forge closer ties

Saudi Arabia and Austria have agreed to negotiate a new visa agreement that will make travel easier between the two countries and help strengthen bilateral ties.
"This will be a historic visa agreement. Negotiations will start soon," said Austrian Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger, in an interview, after holding talks with his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud Al-Faisal here recently.
"The bilateral visa agreement will be very beneficial to both tourist and business travelers, who make up the vast majority of all travel between the Kingdom and Austria."
Spindelegger also invited the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to open an office in Vienna.
Referring to his talks with OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, he said an OIC office in the Austrian capital will help establish regular dialogue with the organization. "The discussion with OIC officials also focused on Austria's support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," said Spindelegger. Austria supported Palestine's observer status at the UN.
"I also discussed with Saudi and OIC officials including Prince Saud, the Iranian nuclear program," he said.
He said there must be an "immediate halt to the bloodshed of the Syrian people and called for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take a firm stand." There is a need to exert "pressure on Russia" to agree on the resolutions and decisions about Syria, he said.
Asked about the King Abdullah International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) in Vienna, Spindelegger said that Austria was willing to be a bridge between the Muslim world and Europe. This would be similar to the role it played during the Cold War as a neutral meeting place between the West and the Soviet Union.
He said Austria established diplomatic ties with the Kingdom about 55 years ago. The two countries have forged closer ties in all domains, he added.
"In fact, I invited Prince Saud and other senior Saudi officials to participate in the global forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) to be held in Vienna from Feb. 27 to 28," he said.
“At a time of dizzying change on a global scale, the Vienna forum will focus on the promotion of responsible leadership in diversity and dialogue,” he said. “In a global environment, where various worldviews stand in direct competition, people around the world often see no other alternatives to either a complete loss of tradition or the frantic attempt to defend one’s own culture and basic values against all external influences.”
Spindelegger said that Austria has recognized Islam as an official religion. There are many mosques in Austria and it is possible to build Muslim prayer facilities anywhere in the country, he said. "We have a mosque very close to the village where I visit on Friday. It was very useful because I then knew about the problems the Muslims face."
He said that Austria is putting together an aid package for Mali and focusing on strengthening government and democratic institutions. "Armed conflicts, terror and human rights violations have added to the trials of a nation already weakened by repeated droughts and famines," said Spindelegger. He said Austria has invited the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to open an office in Vienna. He said the Austrian capital is home to many organizations including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the UN Office on Drug and Crimes (UNODC), the International Anti-Corruption Academy, and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).