WASHINGTON -- Saudi Crown Prince
Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz is scheduled
to meet President George Bush on April 25 at the presidential ranch in Texas. The leaders will discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iraq and bilateral relations, Middle East Newsline reported.
"Among other things, the two leaders are expected to discuss the Saudi
peace proposal presented by the crown prince at the March 27th and March
28th Arab summit in Beirut," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said on
Tuesday. "As well, they will discuss U.S.-Saudi bilateral relationships, the
next phase in the war against terrorism, and the general situation in the
Middle East. The president looks forward to having a full-fledged range of
conversation with Saudi leaders, and will do so."
Fleischer said U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia remain strong although
he acknowledged "complications and differing views" regarding the Middle
East. The White House spokesman said Riyad has cooperated with Washington in
stopping the financing of terrorist groups.
"And those complications are going to be discussed," Fleischer said.
"The United States and Saudi Arabia have differing views as friends and as
allies."
U.S. officials said Abdullah and Bush plan to use their meeting to
revive Saudi-U.S. relations. The U.S. military has been preparing
alternatives to its presence in the kingdom amid rising anti-American
sentiment and Saudi opposition to an attack on Baghdad. Already, combat
aircraft and systems have been relocated to such countries as Oman and
Qatar.
Earlier, Abdullah's visit was said to have been postponed amid Saudi
concern over rising sentiment against his kingdom in the United States. But
U.S. officials said issues of scheduling as well as agreement on an agenda
for talks had delayed the setting of a firm date.
On Tuesday, the United States approved the continued operation of the
PLO. The approval was for six months and comes as Israel relayed
Palestinian Authority documents that detail the funding of Palestinian
suicide bombings by PA Chairman Yasser Arafat.
Arab diplomatic sources said Bush will press Israel to withdraw from
several Palestinian cities by the time Abdullah arrives in the United
States. On Monday, the Saudi Cabinet warned that U.S. interests in the Arab
world are being threatened by the Israeli military offensive in the West
Bank.
On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell met Arafat for more
than two hours in Ramallah. Powell was said to have submitted a ceasefire
plan that would call for a Palestinian condemnation of terrorism along with
an Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian cities.