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Democratic Change

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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