The new Saudi ambassador to Palestine and its Consul General in Jerusalem, Nayef al-Sudairi, today affirmed the Kingdom’s adherence to the Arab Peace Initiative as a basis for resolving the Palestinian issue.Al-Sudairi told reporters after his meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyad Malki at the ministry’s headquarters in Ramallah, that ‘the Arab initiative is the main point in any upcoming agreement.’ He was responding to a question about the fate of the Arab Peace Initiative if an agreement is reached with Israel.Al-Sudairi said that he handed a copy of his credentials as ambassador to Palestine and consul general of Saudi Arabia in Jerusalem, stressing that the Kingdom intends to open a consulate in East Jerusalem.He said he was happy to be in Palestine and to meet President Mahmoud Abbas on behalf of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammad bin Salman.Al-Sudairi referred to the statements of the Saudi Crown Prince last week, in which ‘he clearl
y indicated his great interest in the Palestinian issue and the Palestinian people.’He also referred to statements made by Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan regarding ‘the importance of the Palestinian issue and its solution on the basis of the two-state solution leading to the establishment of the State of Palestine.’Al-Sudairi stressed the depth of Saudi-Palestinian relations, which began during the era of the late King Abdulaziz Al Saud, to reach what it reached during the era of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, stressing their interest in developing them.Malki told reporters that he received the Saudi ambassador and Consul General in Jerusalem, ‘who is visiting Palestine as a representative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his Crown Prince,’ describing the Saudi ambassador’s visit as ‘a historic moment’ in the special relationship between the two countries.’We are very happy with the presence of the Saudi ambassador in his second country, Palestine, an
d we believe that this step by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince brings us very close as two countries, two peoples and leaders, and reflects the depth of the historical relations between them,’ said the foreign minister.Malki said the presence of the Saudi ambassador in Palestine “reflects the progress in the bilateral relations and the great interest of the leadership of the two countries.”He said welcomed the Saudi ambassador to Palestine, stressing his readiness to begin work from this moment to develop relations between the two countries, revealing that the Saudi ambassador will soon return to Palestine ‘to begin his work to develop relations between the two countries, as it is a major responsibility, and to work for his major mission, which is to preserve the Palestinian cause as the central issue for all Arabs, and certainly for Saudi Arabia.’
Source: Palestine news and Information Agency – WAFA