JEDDAH, 31 March 2004 — Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, begins an official visit to Vienna today. “I am fully confident that Prince Abdullah’s visit will herald a new era in the distinguished relations between our two countries,” Austrian President Thomas Klestil said.
Prince Abdullah will hold talks with Klestil on major international issues including Palestine and Iraq. He will also meet Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel. Klestil has emphasized the need for resuming Middle East peace talks and called for a greater and more effective role for the United Nations in Iraq.
“I wholeheartedly welcome the crown prince to Austria. This is an important visit which we have all awaited,” Okaz Arabic daily quoted Klestil as saying on the eve of the prince’s visit.
“There is no better way for contacts than a direct meeting and the exchange of views on issues of mutual concern. Prince Abdullah’s visit will be a rare opportunity to hold talks on major international issues as well as on strengthening political and economic relations,” he said.
Klestil said he would discuss all issues, especially developments in the Middle East. “As you know, the continuation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a matter of great concern and embarrassment for all of us. We hope that peace and stability will prevail in the region,” he said.
Klestil highlighted the “excellent” relations between the two countries and stressed the need for further boosting economic ties. “I believe that Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries have huge economic potential and we would like to work with them as partners,” the president said.
He said Austria was deeply concerned with the repercussions of the Middle East crisis and had supported the Middle East peace road map. “We should not allow oppressive practices to destroy this peaceful process,” he said.
Klestil welcomed the efforts of Prince Abdullah to find a peaceful solution to the Middle East conflict. “What we can do now is to encourage all parties to resume peace talks to prevent extremist forces from aborting the political process.”
Klestil also called for effective international efforts to root out terrorism. “We encourage dialogue between different cultures and demand a global system to confront poverty, hunger and injustice,” he said.
The Austrian president visited the Kingdom in October 2001 and held talks with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, Prince Abdullah, and other top Saudi officials. He also met with prominent Saudi businessmen.
The Austrian media has said the visit would witness the signing of an agreement for economic, commercial, industrial and technical cooperation between the two countries.
Saudi Arabia and Austria have forged closer economic cooperation with two-way trade exceeding SR1 billion annually. Vienna has extended its full support to the Kingdom’s membership in the World Trade Organization.
