India says has high stake in W Asia peace, backs Arab plan

Observing that the world cannot afford a "fresh turmoil" in West Asia, India today backed the Arab Peace Initiative for just settlement to the vexed Palestinian issue and hoped that "dialogue will triumph over confrontation" in resolving conflicts.

Observing that the world cannot afford a "fresh turmoil" in West Asia, India on Monday backed the Arab Peace Initiative for just settlement to the vexed Palestinian issue and hoped that "dialogue will triumph over confrontation" in resolving conflicts.

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India has a "high stake" in the peace and stability of the region, which is a "vital part" of its extended neighbourhood, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the members of the Majlis-al-Shura or the Saudi Consultative Council.

"Neither the countries of the region nor the world can afford fresh turmoil," he said adding, "We sincerely hope that wisdom will prevail and that in the resolution of conflicts and differences, dialogue will triumph over confrontation."

Singh, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Saudi Arabia in 28 years, said there is no issue more important for peace and stability in the region than the Palestine question.

"For far too long, the brave people of Palestine have been denied their legitimate and inalienable rights, including most of all the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable Palestine state. I wish to pay a special tribute to His Majesty (the Saudi King) for the initiatives he has taken to bring about a just settlement," he said.

"We applaud and support the Arab Peace Initiative," Singh said referring to the peace plan first proposed in 2002 at the Beirut Summit of the Arab League which attempts to normalise Arab-Israeli ties in exchange of a complete Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories and a just settlement of the Palestinian refugee crisis.