Saudis welcome security cooperation with Iran
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Thursday, May 17, 2001
NICOSIA — Saudi Arabia has not ruled out an Iranian role in Gulf
Arab security.
Arab diplomatic sources said the Iranian role would not be formal and
depend on approval from the Gulf Cooperation Council. The issue was
discussed at the GCC summit in Manama amid vociferous opposition from the
United Arab Emirates. The UAE has a long-running dispute over three Persian
Gulf islands controlled by Iran.
Iranian-Saudi relations have improved significantly over the last year.
In April, the two countries signed a security cooperation accord that Saudi
officials said could serve as a model for other GCC states.
Saudi defense officials no longer appear wary of cooperation with their
Iranian counterparts. On Tuesday, Saudi deputy military chief Prince Metab
Bin Abdullah said Riyad highly values Iran's military prowess and defense
industries.
Prince Metab was quoted as telling Iran's ambassador to Riyad, Ali
Asghar Khaji, that Arab states in the region hope to benefit from security
cooperation between the Saudis and Iran.
For his part, Khaji termed the security pact as important milestone in
bilateral relations and said Teheran is ready to offer its weaponry
expertise to friendly countries in the region.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Arab neighbors continue to discuss the
development of military and security ties. On Tuesday, Qatari Emir Hamad Bin
Khalifa Al Thani received a message conveyed by UAE Chief of Staff Air
Marshal Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nuhayyan that pledged to continue cooperation
in all spheres.
Thursday, May 17, 2001
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