December 10, 2004

THE SAUDI LEADERSHIP DISCUSS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON THE ARAB, ISLAMIC AND INTERNATIONAL ARENAS WITH THE JORDANIAN AND BAHRAINI MONARCHS. PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL AT THE GULF DIALOGUE: THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR A COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO DEVELOP A MORE SOLID FRAMEWORK FOR GULF SECURITY. SEPARATE BILATERAL AGREEMENTS WITH INTERNATIONAL POWERS, ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE CHARTER OF THE GCC. THEY DIMINISH THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING POWER, WEAKEN THE SOLIDARITY OF THE GCC AND EACH OF ITS MEMBERS. ANY MILITARY AGREEMENT WITH A THIRD PARTY CANNOT COMPENSATE OR SUBSTITUTE FOR THE NECESSITY OF DEVELOPING THE INDIGENOUS RESOURCES OF THE GCC. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz received at Al-Salam palace King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain and the accompanying delegation. During the meeting, discussions focused on the latest developments at Gulf, Arab, Islamic and international arenas particularly the situation in Iraq and the Palestinian issue. They also reviewed aspects of cooperation between the two countries and ways of their enhancement in all fields. On the Saudi side, the meeting was attended by Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Governor of Riyadh Region; Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of State, Cabinet Member and Chief of the Court of Cabinet's Presidency; ministers and senior officials. On the Bahraini side, the meeting was attended by the delegation accompanying the King including Minister of the Royal Court Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and other officials. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain arrived in Riyadh on a visit to the Kingdom. At Riyadh Airbase Airport, he was received by Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard; Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; a number of princes; ministers and senior officials. The Bahraini King was accompanied by a delegation including Minister of the Royal Court Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and other officials. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, held at his palace a meeting with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain. During the meeting, discussions focused on the latest developments at Gulf, Arab, Islamic and international arenas particularly the situation in Iraq and the Palestinian issue. They also reviewed aspects of cooperation between the two countries and ways of their enhancement in all fields. On the Saudi side, the meeting was attended by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Miteb Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Governor of Riyadh Region; Prince Abdulilah Ibn Abdul Aziz; Minister of Economy and Planning Khalid Al-Qusaibi and Assistant Foreign Minister Dr. Nizar bin Obaid Madani. On the Bahraini side, the meeting was attended by the delegation accompanying the King including Minister of the Royal Court Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and other officials. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, held a banquet in honor of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain and his accompanying delegation. The banquet was attended by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Miteb Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, a number of princes; ministers and senior officials. Also in Riyadh Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, held a meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussain. During the meeting, discussions focused on bilateral, Arab, Islamic and international issues. The two sides expressed their keenness on bolstering bilateral cooperation to achieve the joint common interests in various spheres. The talks, also touched on the current situations in the region, particularly in Palestine and Iraq. The two sides called on to capitalize the existing opportunities to revive the peace process on different tracks to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region. They affirmed the importance of finding a final solution to Palestinian-Israeli conflict through urging the two parties to abide by the road map, which achieves the aspiration of Palestinian people in establishing their independent sate on their nation land. On the Iraqi issue, the two sides stressed on supporting all efforts bringing peace and stability to Iraq and preserve its unity. The meeting was attended by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, Prince Miteb Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh Region, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, Prince Abdulilah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Dr. Mosaed Ala'eiban, the Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet and the Accompanying Minister. On the Jordanian side, the meeting was attended by Premier Faisal Al-Fayez and Jordanian ambassador to the kingdom Qaftan Al-Majali. King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussain of Jordan left Riyadh after a brief visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. At Riyadh Airbase Airport, he was seen off by Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard; Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Miteb Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; a number of princes and senior officials. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received a telephone call from Dr. Iyad Allawi, Prime Minister of Iraq. During the conversation, they discussed the situations in the region and relations between the two countries. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, also received a telephone call from Sudanese President Omar Hasan Ahmed Al-Basheer. The two sides reviewed bilateral relations and the latest Regional and International situations. During the conversation, the Sudanese President condemned the criminal act that took place at the U.S. Consulate in Jeddah. President Al-Basheer said that Sudan always supports the Kingdom in the war against terrorism. In Manama Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, confirmed all Gulf Cooperation Council member states need to realize that their individual and collective interests are best served by developing a clear and unified economic and security strategy and meeting the requirements of a joint and meaningful military capability as a priority. This should in no way affect any special relationships that some or any of these countries have with others. He lauded the Iranian positive response to the calls of solving the issue of the Emirates' islands through peaceful means will go a long way in this regard. Equally helpful will be a more active participation in the war on terrorism. This came in a speech delivered by Prince Saud Al-Faisal during the Gulf Dialogue, which wrapped up in Manama under the title "Towards A New Framework for Regional Security". Following is the text of his speech: Dear Friends and Colleagues, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Government of Bahrain and the International Institute for Strategic Studies for providing this timely opportunity to exchange views on such a current and important topic. Any discussion of regional security must be placed in juxtaposition to the strategic significance of the Gulf region. To assert that the Gulf region is of immense strategic importance will be stating the obvious. However, and in the context of security, we aught to remind ourselves of the essential fundamentals that contribute to this strategic vision: * Without being boastful or gleeful let me remind you that all the recent energy estimates and projections from the various international and national agencies agree on three issues regarding the Gulf region: 1. It has the largest proven reserves of oil and natural gas in the world. 2. It has the largest excess capacity for increasing current production levels. 3. Its significance as an energy supplier will actually increase for the foreseeable future. * The Gulf is an integral and crucial part of the Middle East whether it is defined narrowly or broadly. This geo-strategic region is the center of the longest lasting crisis in modern history, the Arab Israeli conflict. * I need not stress the significance of the region in the Islamic world, whose future relations with the west are of vital and critical importance to the world of today. * Add to all of that the undeniable effects of the new world order characterized by uni-polarity, economic globalization, and the emerging powers of Asia and you will appreciate how difficult it is to isolate the Gulf by prismatic view of its security. Alas .. These various causes for the strategic significance of our region do not guarantee the achievement of security and stability. More often than not, the strategic significance of the Gulf region has caused not only fears, anxieties, and concerns to the people of the region, and even to the world at large , but also has been the stage for actual conflicts and major upheavals. Thus there is an urgent need for a collective effort aimed at developing a new and more solid framework for Gulf security. Allow me to share with you some initial remarks on that subject. The new framework for Gulf security should realistically be based on three inter-dependent components; 1. A sub-national component. 2. A regional component. 3. An international component. The first component of the desired security framework for the Gulf region concerns internal developments in the countries of the region themselves. We in the region fully recognize the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in our countries with some variation in the speed of implementation depending on the individual social conditions. By comprehensive reforms I mean actual and meaningful political, economic, social and educational reforms and not merely cosmetic changes. Plans for reforms need to be prioritized and designed on a country-by country basis meeting individual requirements. Gradual Cumulative internal reforms will indeed enhance our stability and security, while implementing readily available solutions from the outside, with no regard to the particular conditions of each country, may actually threaten the very stability and security we wish to preserve. A regional a security framework that includes all the countries of the regions is the best guarantee for peace and stability in the Gulf. Such a framework should be based on four pillars; the GCC, Yemen, Iraq and Iran. First, the Current levels of political, security, and socio-economic cooperation within the GCC should increase substantially to reach a strategic cumulative mass that insures achieving a strong, coherent and unified front not affected by trivial disputes or minor misunderstandings. The GCC countries need to increase their defensive capabilities and to do so in an integrated manner that facilitates joint command and control functions and compatible operational logistics. Geography dictates that the security of the GCC countries will depend on our collective efforts to achieve these objectives rapidly. It is thus alarming to see some members of the GCC enter into separate bilateral agreements with international powers, on both the security and economic spheres, as precedence over the need to act collectively. These separate arrangements are not compatible with the spirit of the Charter of the GCC. They diminish the collective bargaining power and weaken not only the solidarity of the GCC as a whole but also each of its members in both the intermediate and long terms. In the economic sphere, the agreements entered into are in clear violation of the GCC's economic accords and decisions. What is more important, these agreements shall impede the progressive steps needed to achieve full Gulf economic integration, such as the Gulf Common Market and the Gulf Fiscal Union. They will ultimately negatively impact the economic sectors in all GCC countries, which in turn will have dire consequences and adversely affect the GCC business community. In the military sphere, any agreement with a third party can not compensate or substitute for the necessity of developing the indigenous resources of the GCC. All GCC countries need to realize that their individual and collective interests are best served by developing a clear and unified economic and security strategy and meeting the requirements of a joint and meaningful military capability as a priority. This should in no way affect any special relationships that some or any of these countries have with others. Second, Yemen should be included in such a regional security framework for the Gulf. The Gulf can not be separated from the rest of the Arabian Peninsula. The geographic and demographic size of Yemen should contribute positively to the maintenance of security and stability in the whole region. Yemen has developed substantial and meaningful relationships with the GCC countries which would undoubtedly make it easy to attain full membership in the GCC. Third, a safe, stable and unified Iraq is a prerequisite if such a security framework for the Gulf is to succeed. Iraq is too vital a component of the Gulf region for us to look with equanimity upon it becoming a field for experimentation. Repeating the past colonial experiences of the early 20th century in Iraq will never work in this 21st century, as indeed they never did then. The use f force will not guarantee the required levels of security and stability in Iraq. Rather, What is urgently needed is a process of national dialogue leading to national reconciliation and the incorporation of all segments and components of the people of Iraq in building the political future of their own country. The Iraqi-Kuwaiti Accord, which includes international guarantees, could serve as an example for similar accords between the GCC and Iran. In this constructive way Iraq can serve as a regional model. Fourth, a friendly, prosperous, and secure Iran should play a vital role in maintaining the security of the region. To do so our Iranian friends need to come to terms with the requirements of developing high levels of political, economic, cultural and security cooperation with their neighbors based on common interests and the mutual refrain from interference in the domestic affairs of others. Regional anxieties regarding the hegemonic policies of the Shah regime should become a distant dim memory. An Iranian positive response to the calls of solving the issue of the Emirates' islands through peaceful means will go a long way in this regard. Equally helpful will be a more active participation in the war on terrorism. I am encouraged by the increasing signs of moderation and realism in Iran's foreign policy including the latest agreement with the EU regarding the issue of enriched uranium. Iran has every right to feel secure and thus no effort should be spared regarding assuring it that no threat to its borders, territorial integrity, domestic security, or political structure will be forthcoming from any of its neighbors. Focusing only on Iran which is a signatory to the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), while ignoring Israel which has yet to accept the requirements of such an accord is both ineffective and hypocritical. A unified GCC, a prosperous Yemen, a stable Iraq, and a friendly Iran would go a long way towards achieving the desired regional pillars of Gulf security. Regional anxieties regarding the hegemonic policies of the Shah regime should become a distant dim memory. An Iranian positive response to the calls of solving the issue of the Emirates' islands through peaceful means will go a long way in this regard. Equally helpful will be a more active participation in the war on terrorism. I am encouraged by the increasing signs of moderation and realism in Iran's foreign policy including the latest agreement with the EU regarding the issue of enriched uranium. Iran has every right to feel secure and thus no effort should be spared regarding assuring it that no threat to its borders, territorial integrity, domestic security, or political structure will be forthcoming from any of its neighbors. Focusing only on Iran which is a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), while ignoring Israel which has yet to accept the requirements of such an accord is both ineffective and hypocritical. A unified GCC, a prosperous Yemen, a stable Iraq, and a friendly Iran would go a long way towards achieving the desired regional pillars of Gulf security. In today's world, the lines separating internal policies from international relations are becoming increasingly blurred. Internal and external threats to our individual and collective security are often intertwined, as the threat of terrorism amply proves. International help will always be needed in this regard. We fully recognize that the Gulf region is of vital importance to the world at large. Gulf security can not be realistically separated from factors that have bearing on the international system. In addition, the development of cooperative relations among the countries of the region themselves is dependent on each of them feeling confident and secure in its own borders, which in turn requires international guarantees. These international guarantees can not be provided unilaterally even by the only superpower in the world. They can only be provided by the collective will of the international community through a unanimous declaration by the Security Council guaranteeing the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all the countries of the Gulf and promising to act forcefully against any external threats. Following the example of the Iraqi-Kuwaiti Borders Accord, similar agreements among the countries of the Gulf should also be internationally guaranteed. Furthermore, the international component of the suggested Gulf security framework should engage positively the emerging Asian powers as well, especially China and India. Finally, and of equal importance, the effects of the Arab-Israeli conflict on Gulf security can not be overstressed. Any claims to the contrary derive merely from wishful thinking. An effective return to the peace process is an absolute necessity for any successful framework for Gulf security. While we fully support the concept of keeping the Gulf area free from all weapons of mass destruction, such a concept can not be achieved realistically unless it is applied to the whole Middle East region, including Israel. Thank you for listening. In Washingtom President George W. Bush received King Abdullah II at the White House, President Bush welcomed the King and said: we had a chance to talk about the Jordanian economy, and the growth of the economy and the amount of trade between our countries is growing, which is to the benefit of the Jordanian people, as well as to the American people We also talked about, of course, Iraq. I expressed my strong belief that the Iraqi elections must go forward on time. And I appreciate His Majesty listening to my beliefs. And I assured His Majesty that the United States and my government will be involved with Middle Eastern peace, and that I believe that two states living side-by-side in peace -- a Palestinian state and an Israeli state -- is necessary for there to be peace, and that we have an -- a moment, a window of opportunity, and I intend to work very closely with His Majesty to seize that moment for the good of the Palestinian people and for the good of the Israelis, so that we can achieve peace that I know is on your mind. King Abdullah II expressed his thanks to President Bush saying Thank you, Mr. President, for, really, the outstanding support that you are giving our part of the world, and the President's dedication to bring hope and peace, hopefully, to Israelis and Palestinians. I know that you have been committed in the past four years in identifying a future for the Israelis and the Palestinians and the Israelis and the Arabs. And, again, the President today brought home to me how important that is. And I'm very delighted with that strong stand that you've always taken for a better Middle East. As you mentioned, sir, we talked about the future of Iraq, and we work very closely together to bring a transition in Iraq as quickly as possible and a future for Iraqi people. And I tremendously appreciate the effort that you've given all of us and your vision for a better world for all of us -- thank you. Meanwhile Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf met with President George W. Bush at the White House to discuss the war on terror, Palestine and the Kashmir dispute. The bilateral meeting served to reinforce the relationship forged in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Bush praised its efforts to flush out terrorists. He pointed out that the Pakistani army took casualties during missions in southern Waziristan. Musharraf later said, "We have seized five valleys there where al Qaeda had their logistics bases, their command bases. ... We have captured those totally, we have smashed them and they are on the run in the mountains now." The Pakistani leader was unsure of where bin Laden might be hiding. Whatever his location, it is believed that bin Laden and his top lieutenant, Ayman al-Zawahiri are there together. Bush spoke to the media following his meeting with Musharraf at the White House. He said the United States and Pakistan have good relations, and he praised the Pakistani leader for his leadership in a deadly serious battle on terrorists. Bush praised Pakistan for its efforts to fight al Qaeda terrorists in Waziristan a section of Pakistan that borders Afghanistan. The Pakistani army has taken casualties in the fight to deny the terror group a safe haven, Bush noted. "(Musharraf) has been a determined leader to bring to justice not only people like Osama bin Laden, but to bring to justice those who would inflict harm and pain his own people," Bush said. Bush reminded reporters that there have been two attempts on Musharraf's life in the last year. "I am very pleased with his efforts, in his focused efforts and our discussions today," Bush said. "We'll determine how best we can help the president achieve his objective, and which is not only protecting himself but protect his country." Musharraf told Bush that working toward peace in the Arab-Israeli conflict is very important to Muslims. Bush said there is an opportunity to work toward the development of a Palestinian state and peace in the Middle East. "I told him that this will be a priority of my administration," he said. "The goal is two states living side by side in peace and security." In London a meeting was held between the British Prime Minister Toni Blair and Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, the following statement was issued: Pakistan and the UK are bound together by strategic ties. The two countries already enjoy close and fruitful cooperation in diverse areas within several institutional frameworks. President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Tony Blair agreed to broaden the relationship between their countries into a reenergised partnership for peace and prosperity in the 21st century. Pakistan and the United Kingdom are close allies in countering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The prime minister thanked the president for his courage in standing firm against terrorism, which is a serious threat to international stability. The president and the prime minister agreed that no terrorism is acceptable, whatever the cause, and agreed to seek further ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in combating terrorism, especially terrorist networks spanning the UK and Pakistan. The president shared with the prime minister his vision for enlightened moderation in the Islamic world. He also detailed the far-reaching measures taken by Pakistan to eliminate extremism and militancy in the country. They agreed on the need for a concerted international effort to tackle the root causes of terrorism and extremism, including through addressing poverty and injustice, and by providing people with a greater stake in the democracy and development of their own societies. They agreed on the need for judicious resolution of conflict, including in the Middle East and South Asia. The prime minister welcomed President Musharraf's commitment to continuing the process of democratisation in Pakistan, and Pakistan's readmission to the Councils of the Commonwealth. They both affirmed their commitment to the Commonwealth Harare principles. The president and the prime minister welcomed the political cooperation which both countries have enjoyed in the United Nations over the last two years while Pakistan has been a member of the UN Security Council, and looked forward to continuing to work together in the United Nations and other multilateral forums. The two leaders also agreed to work towards the objective of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. They agreed to initiate a bilateral strategic dialogue on these issues. The president and the prime minister agreed on the need for a fairer international trading regime, providing, inter alia, for greater market access in a way which allows developing countries to reap the substantial benefits of an increasingly open world economy. They pledged to work closely for a successful conclusion of the WTO Doha Development Agenda. The president and the prime minister discussed the situation in Iraq and agreed on the need for continued UN and multinational efforts to bring lasting peace and stability to the country. They welcomed the communique issued at the end of the conference in Sharm el-Sheikh which underlined the continued commitment of the international community to support the political process in Iraq. The president and the prime minister reaffirmed their commitment to support Afghanistan's democratic process and its development. They welcomed President Karzai's election and recognised that a stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan will have benefits for the whole region. The prime minister commended Pakistan for its constructive role in the elections, especially the arrangements for refugee voting in Pakistan. The prime minister emphasised the UK's long-term commitment to Afghanistan. The president reaffirmed his commitment to cooperation with Afghanistan and its neighbours in the context of the Good Neighbourly Relations Declaration of December 2002, including the counter narcotics declaration and action plan agreed this year. Both agreed to intensify their efforts to clamp down on the growth, processing, trafficking and abuse of opiates in the region which have such serious effects on our societies and economies. The prime minister praised President Musharraf's statesmanship in seeking to resolve Pakistan's outstanding issues with India, and welcomed the progress made by both sides since January 2004 in the ongoing composite dialogue process. The prime minister encouraged further efforts to find a lasting resolution to these issues, including over Jammu and Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiris. They agreed that resolution of the Kashmir issue would help to establish durable peace in the region. The prime minister and the president agreed to work closely towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The president warmly welcomed the United Kingdom's commitment of up to 144 million pounds over two years in development assistance to help support Pakistan's long-term development and poverty reduction initiatives. The prime minister acknowledged the turnaround in Pakistan's economy, making it one of fastest growing economies in the world with an annual growth rate of over 6.5 percent. The president and the prime minister praised the ongoing work of the Pakistan-Britain Trade and Investment Forum and the Pakistan-Britain Business Advisory Group in helping to promote the already close trading links between their countries. The UK is the second largest foreign investor in Pakistan. They welcomed the success of the two trade missions which visited Pakistan in September and October 2004 and the plans for further trade missions in February 2005. The president and the prime minister welcomed the deepening defence relationship between their countries, including through the success of the annual meetings of the Defence Cooperation Forum. They agreed on the importance of further evolving the forum into a wide-ranging dialogue, including discussions of global and regional security, and defence equipment. They also agreed to enhance cooperation through both countries' continued involvement in UN peacekeeping operations, to which Pakistan currently contributes more troops than any other country in the world, and actively to explore opportunities to learn from each other's experiences, such as through dialogue, training and peacekeeping exercises between the two countries. They also reviewed the constructive work of the Pakistan Britain Joint Judicial Cooperation Working Group in helping to improve the operations of law enforcement agencies affecting both countries. The prime minister expressed his appreciation of the ongoing links between Pakistan and the approximately one million people of Pakistani heritage living in the UK, and both welcomed the reopening of the visa issuing service in the British High Commission in Islamabad and the British Deputy High Commission in Karachi. They agreed on the need to encourage bona-fide travel between their countries as a means of fostering strong people-to-people links, but to clamp down on those who try to cheat the system. To this end the leaders agreed to conclude as soon as possible a Memorandum of Understanding on immigration issues, re-documentation and resolution of cases. The president and the prime minister agreed to hold an annual summit-level meeting between their countries and to explore new areas of bilateral cooperation.