HRH Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, and HRH Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the Secretary General of the Saudi Arabian National Security Council today met with the British Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Tony Blair, at 10 Downing Street in London. The meeting was part of an ongoing diplomatic tour to discuss the Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Palestine as well as other Middle Eastern Issues.

After the meeting, the Foreign Minister said “I have conveyed a verbal message from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to the Prime Minister that addressed the tragedy facing Lebanon and its people. It is our view that this crisis will continue until the Lebanese State has its sovereignty and territorial integrity returned and the first step to achieve this is an immediate ceasefire and putting an end to the to suffering of the Lebanese people.”

He added, “We had a very excellent discussion. We both agree the real solution is for Lebanon to get back its sovereignty and territorial integrity. But for that to happen, first there has to be a ceasefire to stop the carnage – Lebanese people are dying and infrastructure is being destroyed and through no fault of the Lebanese people”

With regards to the US stance, Prince Saud said, “I hope that the support will be for the Lebanese position, this is what we are urging everyone [to do], this is Lebanon's crisis, not Britain's or America's or Saudi Arabia’s, what we need is to help that country overcome this crisis.”

In answering a question about Hizbullah, Prince Saud said, “It is not a matter of being critical of Hizbullah, we are for the Lebanon, and if Hizbullah is for Lebanon, [then] they will follow everyone in doing what Lebanon needs.”

Talking about the Rome summit, Prince Saud added that he had met with the American Secretary of State before she left the US and that her aim was to reach an agreement over a ceasefire and to begin the process of returning the territorial control to the Lebanese government. The Prince also stated that he hoped this would be repeated again in Rome.