Washington Asharq Al-Awsat – Prince Turki al-Faisal, the Saudi ambassador to the US, has called for a better understanding to the problems of the Middle East and the aspirations of the nations of the region.

Prince Turki’s remarks came at his speech at the Washington center in the US capital last night and were carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

Prince Turki clarified the stand of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia vis-à-vis the Middle East problems and its role in supporting the ongoing efforts which aim at enhancing the pillars of stability and peace in the region, as well as the kingdom’s cooperation with the international community to realize these goals.

In his speech about the Palestinian problem, prince Turki reiterated the keenness of the kingdom on implementing the proposed road map and the Arab peace plan.

He hoped that the Palestinians and Israelis would take the necessary steps so as to move forward towards peace.

The Saudi ambassador said unless the Palestinians obtain the homeland where they can live in peace, then the Palestinian–Israeli dispute will not only remain as a tragedy, but it will also continue to give justifications to the terrorists for carrying out their terror acts throughout the world.

On the unstable situation in Iraq, prince Turki said the solution of the problem should come from inside Iraq within the framework of the Iraqi identity and an Iraqi policy which takes into account the future of Iraq.

He confirmed the support of the kingdom to the stability and unity of Iraq.

he pointed out to the kingdom’s efforts for convening a meeting for the Iraqi scholars, including Sunnah and Shiites, in Mecca in line with the great attention it has been giving to the importance of surpassing the current dangers, besides its efforts within the framework of the Arab league to preserve Iraq’s unity and safety in addition to the participation of all Iraqi factions in making the common future for all Iraqis.

Prince Turki called for further understanding the disputes pertaining to the national identity and religious and racial strife which have a great effect on the public feelings.

If the people of the world are watching what million of Arabs have been watching at the television channels, and then they will understand the strong influence of the scenes and events of the Palestinian Israeli conflict in the hearts of the Arab viewers, he concluded.