Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said Friday he will attend next week's U.S.-sponsored Middle East peace conference but insisted he would not take part in a "theatrical show," such as handshakes with Israeli officials. According to him, the summit must make serious progress.
Al-Faisal told a news conference that an Arab League meeting Friday had decided that Arab countries will attend Annapolis at the level of foreign minister. "I'm not hiding any secret about the Saudi position. We were reluctant until today. And if not for the Arab consensus we felt today, we would not have decided to go," al-Faisal said, according to the AP. "But the kingdom would never stand against an Arab consensus, as long as the Arab position has agreed on attending, the kingdom will walk along with its brothers in one line."
But he cautioned, "We are not prepared to take part in a theatrical show, in handshakes and meeting that don't express political positions. We are going with seriousness and we work on the same seriousness and credibility."
