Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Al-Faisal, addressing the European Policy Centre (EPC) in Brussels today, reiterated the Kingdom’s desire to enhance its partnership with the European Union, and called for efforts to re-shape economic systems. The Arab world, he said, is in need of a comprehensive reform program on all levels, political, legal, administrative, economic and educational, but this cannot be imposed from outside. He went on to observe that extremists on both sides might succeed unless everyone works together for peace and stability. As for the Arab-Israeli dispute, the establishment of two countries constitutes a practical and realistic solution; and for Iraq, he stressed, the role of the United Nations is essential.

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While in Brussels, Prince Saud met yesterday with Foreign Policy Coordinator to the European Union Javier Solana and briefed him on the recent meeting in Kuwait of Iraq’s neighbors, commenting that Saudi Arabia and the EU share identical views on the importance of stability in Iraq.

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