Palestinian President Yasser Arafat today affirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz was the first among brotherly countries to provide moral and financial support to the Palestinian people, and stated that the announcement of the Kingdom's donation of $100 million as assistance to the Palestinian Authority clearly projects Riyadh's support of the Palestinian people. It is to be noted that this stance is not new but one that has been consistently and firmly followed ever since the days of King Abdul Aziz.

Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, earlier reiterated the contribution of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Middle East peace process on September 29, at the time of a meeting in Washington DC with U.S. Secretary of State Mr. Warren Christopher. Prince Saud stated that the initial step towards formulating a strategy for peace was the Peace Plan proposed at the Fez Conference by Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz. The Palestinian-Israeli agreement signed in Washington yesterday was the second step, which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia views as a positive step forward because it will pave the way towards a comprehensive and just peace, and a final accord on the issues of Jerusalem, the Israeli settlements, and the return of Palestinian refugees. Prince Saud added: "Peace cannot be partitioned; and without reaching an agreement on the Syrian-Lebanese track, peace will remain incomplete."

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