Excerpts: Obama calls Saudi King Abdullah January 31, 2011

+++SOURCE: Saudi Gazette 31 Jan.'11:"Abdullah, Obama discuss Egypt"

SUBJECT: Obama calls Saudi King Abdullah

QUOTE: "US president understood the viewpoint of the King concerning the
stability and security of the region"
" Saudi King: stabilty of Egypt and the safety and security of
its people was a 'non-negionable issue' "

FULL TEXT:CASABLANCA: King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,
received a telephone call late Saturday night from US President Barack Obama
in which the two leaders discussed the situation in Egypt and expressed
their disapproval of the chaos and looting and threats to security and
safety.

King Abdullah said that the stability of Egypt and the safety and security
of its people was a “non-negotiable issue” and that threats to them were
“unjustifiable under any pretext”.

According to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), King Abdullah also described the
achievements and advancements of Egypt as “inseparable from the achievements
and advancements of the Arab and Islamic Ummah”.

SPA said that the US president understood the viewpoint of the King
concerning the stability and security of the region.

Abdul Rahman Al-Attiya, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC), meanwhile, said Sunday[30 Jan] that the GCC “wants stability in
Egypt”.

In a statement given on the sidelines of an investment forum in Malaysia,
Al-Attiya said that the GCC “hopes that the situation returns to normal
soon”. GCC economies, he added, are “strong” and “have no fear at this
stage of any economic repercussions from the crisis in Egypt”.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC), also released a statement the same day expressing his
“extreme concern”.

Ihsanoglu called upon the people of Egypt to exercise “utmost self-control”
and “protect lives”.

Amr Moussa, the head of the Arab League, said Sunday he wanted to see a
multi-party democracy emerge in Egypt but could not say how soon that might
happen.– SPA/Okaz/Saudi Gazette
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Sue Lerner - Associate, IMRA