In his first meeting Saturday with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz in Riyadh, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran and Saudi Arabia are obliged to help meet the needs of the Islamic world. 'Iran and Saudi Arabia are two great and powerful Islamic countries and accordingly have numerous mutual obligations and responsibilities in the Islamic world and Middle East,' Ahmadinejad said in a statement on the website of the Iranian presidential office. 'The eyes of hope of Islamic nations are focused on these two countries, expecting from us to settle their problems and cover their needs, and therefore bilateral ties should be far beyond relations by just two neighbouring countries.'
Ahmadinejad further said that in the current critical juncture, 'coordination between Iran and Saudi Arabia could strengthen identity and greatness of the Islamic world.' The Iranian president thanked the Saudis for their efforts during pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina, attended every year by millions of Muslims worldwide including more than 80,000 Iranians. He called for expansion of ties in the fields of business, energy, culture and theology.
The Iranian website quoted Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz as saying that Saudi Arabia is the 'second home country for Iranians.'
'Today, the Islamic world has many enemies who want to sow discord between the two countries, but our two nations are Muslims with a united belief and therefore enjoying good relations,' Abdullah said. 'We have the duty to confront the enemies with wisdom and reason and not allow them to realize their aims of sowing discord.'
Abdullah regretted the short duration of Ahmadinejad's visit and said that there had been 'numerous issues' that the two states needed to discuss. According to the report, the two officials continued their talks behind closed doors. |