PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SAUDI MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

April 14, 2003

Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal has announced that Saudi Arabia is convening an emergency regional conference at the level of foreign ministers, for all the countries neighboring Iraq. The conference, scheduled for Friday April 18, 2003, in Riyadh, is being held in light of developments of the situation in Iraq and their expected impact on the countries of the region in general and on the Iraqi people in particular.

Prince Saud today paid a brief visit to Damascus, where he met with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to discuss efforts being exerted by the neighboring countries to restore security and stability to Iraq. In Riyadh yesterday, Prince Saud held talks with visiting French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, reviewing the Iraqi situation and stressing the importance of Iraqis taking control of their country for the return of security and stability to Iraq. Prince Saud spoke of the importance of continued consultations and cooperation between European and Arab countries on the issues of Iraq and the Middle East.

Meanwhile, it was announced today that the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will hold in Riyadh tomorrow their 28th extraordinary session, to review developments in the region following the collapse of the Iraqi regime.