Prince Saud Al-Faisal, German counterpart speak to reporters
March 11, 2012
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal received in Riyadh today German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who is on a two-day visit to the Kingdom. During the meeting, they discussed issues of mutual interest and strategies for developing bilateral relations.In a press statement issued afterwards, Prince Saud reported that the Syrian crisis topped the subjects he discussed with his German counterpart. He once again stressed the importance of efforts to end the violence by implementing the Arab League plan and ensuring the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid.
Speaking to journalists, Prince Saud stated, “What is happening in Syria cannot be in accordance with international law – or the Islamic one – and, in fact, what the regime in Syria is doing is a massacre of the Syrian people. I believe that this cannot be justified under any moral, political or religious considerations.” He added, “There is no one against Syria or the Syrian regime, but we are against the actions of the regime. It is inhuman to see what we see and not support the Syrians’ [right] to defend themselves.”
Replying to a reporter’s question, Prince Saud said that he did know the reason China and Russia recently vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria. However, he urged the two world powers to present an alternative proposal that will help achieve peace in the troubled country. He insisted that Russia will never benefit from its current position, which stands against the Syrian people. Prince Saud rebuffed Russia’s accusation that the Kingdom supports terrorists inside Syria, insisting that Saudi Arabia does not need to prove that it is against terrorism and asking the audience whether it is Saudi Arabia or Syria who has accommodated international terrorists on its territory.
According to Prince Saud’s statement, he also discussed Iran, Israel, Yemen, and Libya with Foreign Minister Westerwelle, as well as Saudi-German relations.
