RIYADH, JAN 13, SPA -- PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL, THE FOREIGN MINISTER, SAID TODAY THE VISIT OF ITALIAN DEPUTY PREMIER AND FOREIGN MINISTER MASSIMO D'ALEMA TO THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA WAS CULMINATED INTO THE SIGNING OF AN AGREEMENT PERTAINING TO AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION. ADDRESSING A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE HERE TODAY WITH THE ITALIAN MINISTER, PRINCE SAUD EXPRESSED SATISFACTION OVER THE OUTCOME OF THEIR TALKS AND SAID THESE WERE "CONSTRUCTIVE TALKS". "THE TALKS COVERED THE BILATERAL RELATIONS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE SAUDI-ITALIAN JOINT COMMISSION," HE ADDED. PRINCE SAUD SAID THE AGREEMENT OF AVOIDING DOUBLE TAXATION WAS AIMED AT ENHANCING TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. WELCOMING SECURITY COOPERATION BETWEEN THE KINGDOM AND ITALY, PRINCE SAUD SAID THE ITALIAN OFFICIAL COULD BE BRIEFED BY THE CONCERNED AUTHORITIES ON THE SECURITY EFFORTS BEING EXERTED BY THE KINGDOM. PRINCE SAUD ALSO WELCOMED THE ONGOING CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN THE FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY AT THE SAUDI SHOURA COUNCIL AND THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT. HE NOTED THAT THE TALKS HAD COVERED THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST REGION, NOTABLY IN IRAQ, PALESTINE, LEBANON AND AFGHANISTAN AS WELL AS THE NUCLEAR ISSUE IN THE REGION. "THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA IS KEEN ON THE SOLUTION OF THIS PROBLEM THROUGH PEACEFUL MEANS, AND ISRAEL SHOULD NEVER BE EXCLUDED FROM ANY MEASURES IN THIS RESPECT. PRINCE SAUD ELABORATED." HE UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ITALIAN ROLE IN LEBANON, AND DESCRIBED IT AS "CONSTRUCTIVE." 'WE ARE LOOKING FOR PUTTING AN END TO TENSION IN LEBANON, AND THE RETURN OF THE ARAB LEAGUE'S SECRETARY GENERAL TO LEBANON', HE SAID. "THE PROPOSALS OF THE ARAB LEAGUE CONSTITUTE A SUITABLE WAY FOR OVERCOMING THE CRISIS AND COULD ENABLE LEBANON TO AVOID THE PROSPECTIVE DANGERS," PRINCE SAUD ADDED.--MORE www.spa.gov.sa/417669