Foreign Minister addresses International Conference for Friends of the Syrian People
February 24, 2012
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal led the Kingdom’s delegation to the International Conference for Friends the of Syrian People in Tunis today. The event was attended by representatives from more than sixty countries and regional and international organizations.Addressing the delegates, Prince Saud declared that the Kingdom will be at the forefront of any international effort to achieve urgent, comprehensive and effective solutions that will protect the Syrian people. However, he warned, his country cannot participate in any initiative that does not solve the crisis quickly and effectively. The Foreign Minister asserted that what is happening in Syria is a serious tragedy and cannot be tolerated. The Syrian regime has lost legitimacy, he insisted, and has become more like an occupation authority.
Condemning the failure of the Security Council to pass an Arab League-sponsored draft resolution on Syria, he stated, “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia holds morally responsible the international parties that disrupted the international action for the way things have turned out, especially if these parties continue in their failing and blind stances regarding the interests of the Syrian people.” He added, “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia subscribes to the draft statement, which focuses on the humanitarian situations in the affected areas.”
On the sidelines of the Conference, Prince Saud met with several of his counterparts, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, with whom he discussed the meeting’s agenda.
The Saudi delegation included Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz; Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia Khaled Al-Angari; and a number of other officials from the Foreign Ministry.
Full text of statement
