The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Annapolis

Saudi Arabia backed Tuesday's launch here of a new Middle East peace drive, but shunned Israel's call for the Arab world to normalize ties with it even before a deal with the Palestinians. "We have come to support the launching of serious and continuing talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis that will address all the core and final status issues," Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said in a statement to the peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland. "These talks must be followed by the launching of the Syrian and Lebanese tracks at the earliest," he added, citing other regional issues of concern to Arab states. Saudi Arabia, a principal patron of the Palestinians and an influential voice in the Muslim world, demanded Israel take concrete step towards ending the occupation of the Palestinian territories and making peace.