RIYADH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman held wide-ranging talks here on Saturday night. The talks covered the latest developments in the Middle East.
King Abdullah hosted a banquet for Suleiman and his accompanying delegation. The two heads of state also discussed efforts to increase security and peace in the region, Lebanese national unity and ways to boost political, commercial and cultural relations between the two countries.
Talks following the banquet were attended by Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, besides several members of the royal family and senior Saudi officials. "The talks between King Abdullah and Suleiman will go a long way in unifying Arab ranks, boosting efforts to combat terrorism, encouraging Palestinian reconciliation and achieving the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to live in security," said Saudi Ambassador to Beirut Ali Awadh Al-Assiri.
Al-Assiri said the talks came at a "sensitive time" in the history of the Middle East.
"King Abdullah and Suleiman discussed the overall state of affairs in the region ahead of an Arab summit to be held in Libya," said another Arab diplomat on condition of anonymity.
Suleiman's visit, the diplomat said, involved discussions on several topics, particularly Palestine and Iraq and threats from Israel. "The threat posed by Israel was the most important issue on the agenda," said the diplomat.
Arab foreign ministers, at their 133rd session in Cairo, decided to hold the next Arab summit in the Libyan city of Sirte on March 27 and 28. The summit will tackle several issues including peace talks, the Arab Peace Initiative, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen.
The diplomat said the visit is also important as it precedes a meeting of the international Quartet in Moscow on March 19. The Moscow meeting, he said, is expected to issue resolutions to revive peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
The Lebanese president will also be looking at ways to strengthen economic relations with the Kingdom during his two-day stay in Riyadh. In a statement released on the occasion, Abdulmuhsen Al-Hokair, chairman of the Saudi-Lebanese Business Council, said Saudi investments in Lebanon currently amount to more than SR16 billion in real estate, services and banking.
Al-Hokair said this figure is expected to rise to SR20 billion by 2011. "Saudi Arabia occupies an important position in the Lebanese economy through direct investments," Al-Hokair added. Lebanese investors in the Kingdom number about 600 with investments in contracting, construction and other fields.
By GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN
© Arab News 2010
