SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal calls on Russia to end its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
Record ID:
189063
SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal calls on Russia to end its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal calls on Russia to end its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
- Date: 4th December 2012
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (DECEMBER 4, 2012) (REUTERS ) **CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL ENTERING THE CONFERENCE HALL AND WELCOMING ATTENDEES PHOTOGRAPHERS NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER, PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL, SAYING: "The real disruption comes from the lack of agreed political solution, and Israel's refusal of all peaceful solutions, and the continued construction of settlements and swallowing up of the Palestinian territories. It is a policy that would pre-empt a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to this long-standing dispute, We hope the UN Security Council will deal positively with this decision at least this time." REPORTERS AND ATTENDEES SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER, PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL, SAYING: "We hope that the Russians will go back to supporting what's right and what's fair in the Syrian issue. We don't know how effective these talks were on Russia's position." SAUDI FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER, PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL, SAYING: "If Russia's position changes, it will be a breakthrough in Syria's situation." PHOTOGRAPHER PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL THANKING ATTENDEES AND LEAVING
- Embargoed: 19th December 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA3AHZCXTY59DYMP352AC5QSUQT
- Story Text: Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal on Tuesday (December 4) called on Russia to end its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which he said would be a "breakthrough" towards ending the violence there.
Saudi Arabia has been a main backer for rebels battling Assad's government and it had already expressed frustration at permanent United Nations Security Council members Russia and China blocking some international moves against Damascus.
"We hope that the Russians will go back to supporting what's right and what's fair in the Syrian issue. If Russia's position changes it will be a breakthrough in Syria's situation," al-Faisal told reporters at a news conference in Riyadh.
Rebel forces have pushed towards the capital Damascus in recent weeks, aided by money and weapons provided from the Gulf, 20 months into an uprising that has claimed 40,000 lives.
Images of destruction to civilian areas caused by the bombardment of cities by government forces has prompted outrage in the world's top oil exporter.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Riyadh last month to discuss Syria with Gulf Arab states, but Prince Saud said he remained doubtful the talks had impacted Moscow's stance.
"We don't know how effective these talks were on Russia's position," he said.
Prince Saud also called on the international community to "put an end to Israeli procrastination" on the peace process with the Palestinian authority and said the Jewish state must withdraw from West Bank settlements.
"The real disruption comes from the lack of agreed political solution, and Israel's refusal of all peaceful solutions, and the continued construction of settlements and swallowing up of the Palestinian territories. It is a policy that would pre-empt a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to this long-standing dispute. We hope the UN Security Council will deal positively with this decision at least this time," al-Faisal told reporters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an expansion of settlement building in a strategically important West Bank location last week, apparently in retaliation for Palestinians taking their bid for statehood to the United Nations.
Saudi Arabia a decade ago proposed an Arab peace plan involving a full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories and the return of Palestinian refugees in return for a comprehensive peace settlement.
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