Obama to visit Saudi Arabia
Published by Avi Green on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 2:41 PM.
Oh wow, just what we need (Hat tip: Michelle Malkin):
US President Barack Obama will visit Riyadh next week for talks with King Abdullah on Middle East peace, Iran and terrorism, on the eve of his long-awaited address to the Muslim world in Egypt.Bleah. That's all we need too.
The visit, which will represent Obama’s first steps in the Middle East as president, will come as he attempts to forge a new approach to revive stalled regional peace talks and tries to prod Iran to the negotiating table.
“The president will meet with his majesty King Abdullah to discuss a range of important issues, including Middle East peace, Iran and terrorism,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said, adding that the talks would take place on the evening of June 3.
“The president believes it’s a chance to discuss a lot of important business and he thought it was a good opportunity to do that,” he said.
Gibbs however said that the decision to make the stop, did not arise out of any specific proposal discussed by Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in their high-stakes talks in Washington last week.
But senior Obama aides have hinted privately that any new US plan could involve an expansion of a 2002 Saudi-inspired peace initiative which several Arab states have been advancing.
The initiative calls for full normalization of relations between Arab states and Israel, a full withdrawal by Israel from Arab land, the creation of a Palestinian state and an “equitable” solution for Palestinian refugees.
Ahead of next week’s trip, which also includes visits to Germany and France for World War II commemorations, Obama will meet Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Thursday at the White House.
Labels: House of Saud, islam, political corruption, United States
