IN A STATEMENT TO THE SAUDI PRESS AGENCY (SPA) FOLLOWING THE SESSION, THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION IYAD BIN AMEEN MADANI SAID THE COUNCIL THEN REVIEWED A HOST OF REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES. THE COUNCIL REITERATED SAUDI ARABIA'S WELCOME OF THE FORMATION OF THE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT AND COMMENDED THE POSITIVE STANDS EXPRESSED BY SOME COUNTRIES TOWARD IT. THE COUNCIL STRESSED THAT COUNTRIES INFLUENCING THE COURSE OF THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS SHOULD SHOULDER THEIR POLITICAL AND MORAL RESPONSIBILITIES IN RECOGNIZING THE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND ENABLING IT TO PLAY ITS ROLE BY LIFTING THE ECONOMIC AND HUMANITARIAN SIEGE IMPOSED ON THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, AND BY FORCING ISRAEL TO RESPECT THE INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMATE RESOLUTIONS AND TO STOP TORMENTING THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS. THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION SAID THE COUNCIL HAS HIGH HOPES THAT THE FORTHCOMING ARAB SUMMIT IN RIYADH WOULD MEET THE ASPIRATION OF THE ARAB PEOPLE, SPEAK CREDIBLY OF THE ARAB CAUSES, CONFRONT CHALLENGES FACING THE ARAB WORLD REALISTICALLY AND TRANSPARENTLY, RESTORE ARAB UNITY, AFFIRM ARAB SOCIETY'S CULTURAL AND CIVILIZATIONATIONAL IDENTITY, BOOST ECONOMIC INTEGRATION AMONG ARAB COUNTRIES AND FACILITATE TRADE AMONG THEM. "THE COUNCIL IS ALSO VERY HOPEFUL THAT THE RIYADH DECLARATION WILL BE A REAL, PRACTICAL AND GENUINE START FOR JOINT ARAB WORK," HE NOTED. --MORE www.spa.gov.sa/434427