Gulf | Saudi Arabia
Saudi attacks Syrian regime
In an unprecedented attack, Saudi Arabia yesterday lashed at Syrian regime accusing its leaders of "spreading chaos and instability" in the region.
- By Mohammed Almezel, Deputy Managing Editor
- Published: 23:48 August 16, 2007
Dubai: In an unprecedented attack, Saudi Arabia yesterday lashed at Syrian regime accusing its leaders of “spreading chaos and instability'' in the region.
The strongly worded statement, by an unnamed official source and carried by the state press agency, SPA, brought, for the first time in recent history, a two-year old simmering tension between the two Arab heavyweights into the public.
The Saudi source said the statement was in response to “the recent atrocious statements by Syrian Vice President Farouq Al Sharaa.''
Al Sharaa, during a lecture in Damascus earlier this week, blasted what he called “the paralysis'' in the Saudi foreign policy establishment. He was responding to a question about the increasingly deteriorating relationship between Riyadh and Damascus. Saudi officials have repeatedly refused to meet with Syrian officials to discuss the issue, said Al Sharaa, considered a leading hawk in the Syrian leadership, hinting that the United State might have vetoed those meeting.
“Saudi Arabia has nothing to do with the problems in the relationship between the two countries and Mr Al Sharaa knows that because he is one of the reasons [of the problem],'' the Saudi Statement said.
“Any talk about a paralysis in the role of Saudi Arabia in the Arab and Muslim world cannot come from a rational or a sensible person. Perhaps Mr Al Sharaa was talking about his own [regime's] policies.''
The Saudi source added: “Saudi Arabia has never refused any meeting aimed at benefiting Arab interests. We don't have any problem with any party but the problem lies with those who spread chaos and instability in the region and who work against the interests of the Arab nation.''
Relations between Riyadh and Damascus went downhill following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Al Hariri, who also held a Saudi citizenship. Syria is widely blamed for his murder. The ties between the two countries suffered another set back during last summer's Israeli war on Lebanon.
Syria accused Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan of providing an Arab ‘political cover' to the Israeli war against Hezbollah. In a post war speech, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad called Arab leaders who didn't support Hezbollah “half men.''
According to observers, Syria also accused Saudi Arabia of being part of a new Arab ‘moderate alliance' aimed at isolating US opponents in the region, including Syria. Riyadh meanwhile alleges that Syria is helping Iran in its pursuit to dominate the Arab region and using its Lebanese allies to destabilize the Beirut government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
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