Bilateral relations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia are better than before and there is continuous improvement, said Saudi ambassador to Algeria Sami Abdullah bin Saleh.
Saleh told Algerian Al-Shorouk newspaper on Tuesday, “The official visit recently made by President Mohamed Morsy to Saudi Arabia during which he met with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, revealed the nature of this relationship and reflected the extent of its advancement.”
With regard to the Muslim Brotherhood’s ascension to power in several countries and reports that Saudi Arabia provided significant support to the group, Saleh said the Brotherhood’s rise was the choice of the people and must be respected by all countries.
“Saudi Arabia supported the people and did not limit its support to certain people or organizations,” he added.
He went on to say that the roles of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Algeria were pivotal in the Arab region. “These three countries represent a pyramid, and if they are doing well the entire Arab nation will do well.”
Saleh held Iran responsible for the recent protests that took place in the Qatif region of Saudi Arabia, describing them as being “part of the Shia tide in the Gulf region.” He said the protests were not spontaneous and that “foreign hands” were involved.
“Iran is responsible for these events; it is tampering in the region as it pleases, not unlike its intervention in Yemen and Bahrain,” he said. “There is an agenda for Shia extension in the Arab Maghreb and in East Africa.”
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
