Prince Turki Al-Faisal speaks on Saudi and Arab efforts for

New York, April 22, SPA -- Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the President of
the Riyadh-based King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies,
has highlighted the efforts of the Arab countries in general and
Saudi Arabia's efforts in particular to bring about peace in the
Middle East.


Lecturing here last night in response to an invitation from New York
University, Prince Turki Al-Faisal said King Fahd peace plan and King
Abdullah’s peace initiative stand as a witness for the Kingdom’s
efforts to realize peace in the region.

In his lecture entitled 'Horizons of peace in the Middle East,' he
said King Fahd's peace plan was approved by all Arab countries in
1982, while King Abdullah's peace initiative was endorsed by all Arab
countries in 2002.


"The peace plan and the peace initiative view peace as a strategic
option which is based on the resolutions of the Security Council 242
and 338 in addition to the principle of Madrid conference and
peace-for-land principle."


Prince Turki briefed the audience on the roots of the conflicts in
the Middle East since 1948.


He urged the Israelis to adhere to the previous agreements and the
peace initiative presented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz in 2002. He also called on the Israelis
to refrain from the settlement policy in the Palestinian territories
and stop assassination of Palestinians and not to engage in
demolition of Palestinian houses and farms.

Prince Turki Al-Faisal called on the Israelis to terminate
arbitrary arrests, and stop the expulsion of Palestinians from their
houses.

He noted that the International Court of Justice has decided that
the racial separation wall is an illegal one and that it should be
dismantled.


"Moreover, the Palestinians should adhere to the previous agreements
and the Arab peace initiative, and work for formation of a
broad-based national unity government," he affirmed.


Prince Turki Al-Faisal noted that reaching a durable and just
settlement for the Palestinian-Israeli dispute depends on whether it
will lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state
which is capable of survival.


--SPA
1422 LOCAL TIME GMT NNNN