Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Germany hold joint press

RIYADH, October 29, SPA -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,
King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud will attend the economic summit
of Group 20 to be held in Washington in November 2008, Prince Saud
al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
announced here yesterday.


In a joint press conference with visiting Foreign Minister and
Vice Chancellor of Germany Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Prince Saud
Al-Faisal said "the King welcomes the economic summit and has
accepted an invitation to take part in the meeting scheduled to
discuss the international financial crisis and its repercussions and
the requirements of joint efforts to restore confidence of the global
economy and avoid entering into a recession."

He said the talks between the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,
King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the German Minister dealt
with bilateral relations between the two countries and ways of
strengthening them in all areas, and covered the international
financial crisis.


He pointed out that the King expressed during the meeting
confidence in the strength of the Saudi economy and that of the Gulf
Cooperation Council member states, as well as its continued growth
and stable banking system enabling it to cope up with the possible
effects of the global financial crisis.


He said that the view points of the two sides were identical as
regards international and regional political issues, and the peace
process in the Middle East.


They underscored the importance of exerting double efforts and
endeavors to overcome these obstacles and push the peace process
towards its agreed frameworks based on international legitimacy
resolutions and the commitments of Annapolis conference and the Arab
peace initiative.


Prince Saud Al-Faisal said "The Kingdom stresses that one of the
most important uncertainties casting shadow over the peace process is
the continuation of Israel to renege its commitments and to opt for
unilateral policies, including the expansion of settlements, which
would change the geographic and legal status of the occupied
territories and derail the establishment of an integral, independent
and viable Palestinian state.


He underlined the importance of taking this matter seriously,
including all issues of major conflict on Al-Quds, borders, refugees,
water and other issues which together constitute the foundations of a
just, comprehensive and lasting settlement to the conflict in the
Middle East.