Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received yesterday the Arab Ambassadors accredited to Washington DC. Speaking on the occasion, Crown Prince Abdullah reiterated the Kingdom’s concern, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, to mobilize its potentialities in the service of Arab and Muslim causes. He underlined the importance of closing ranks, commenting on the links of creed, language, blood and a shared destiny.
On the outcome of his talks with U.S. officials concerning the peace process in the Middle East, the Crown Prince said: “I have made it clear to the U.S. officials that the issue of peace is not only a matter of concern to the Arabs, but it is also a matter of concern to Israel: and in the long run, the Arabs will triumph.” He reiterated the Arab world’s adherence to the cause of peace, adding: “U.S. President Bill Clinton, Vice-President Al Gore, and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, have all pledged to work for the realization of peace.”

Crown Prince Abdullah also met yesterday with a number of representatives of the Muslim community in the Washington DC area, with whom he exchanged views on issues pertaining to Islamic affairs in America. Organizations represented included the Washington-based Council of Islamic-American Relations, the Islamic-American Foundation, and the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences. Crown Prince Abdullah told them that he had clarified to President Clinton that Islam is the religion of peace, security and love, and that Islam has nothing to do with terrorism. He urged them to establish contacts with the American media so as to enable the American citizens to become acquainted with the principles of Islam, which does not tolerate terrorism and extremism.
Earlier, Crown Prince Abdullah had received the presidents of a number of Arab American societies, and with a group of Arab-American thinkers and men of letters. He also met with the chairman of the subcommittee for Middle East Affairs from the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee.
Yesterday evening, the Crown Prince received Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, with whom he exchanged views on issues pertaining to the peace process in the Middle East, and who briefed him on the tenor of his talks with U.S. officials. The meeting was attended by Saudi Ambassador to the USA Prince Bandar Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Secretary of the Executive Committee for the Palestine Liberation Organization Mahmoud Abbas, and Palestinian Ambassador to the USA Dr. Hassan Abdel-Rahman.

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