Riyadh committed to peace, envoy says

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia has a history of pursuing peace and security in its region, the Saudi envoy to the United States said ahead of a two-day summit in Washington.

Adel bin Ahmen al-Jubeir, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, said at a national conference on U.S.-Arab relations that Riyadh and Washington shared a number of common tests.

"Our countries face a number of mutual challenges in the region and they work together closely to overcome them," he said. "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a history of seeking stability and security and peace in our region and in our world."

Jubeir pointed to interfaith dialogue and commitments to peace, dialogue and understanding from the Saudi monarchy as evidence of its shared visions with the United States, the Saudi Arabian Embassy in the United States said.

Brig. Gen. James Smith, the U.S. envoy to Saudi Arabia, for his part, said many of the challenges in the Middle East have solutions that lie in with cooperating with Riyadh.

"It's an era of hope and opportunity … for most every challenge facing this nation there is a crossroad in Riyadh," he said.

Their comments come as leaders prepare for a two-day conference in Washington featuring current and former envoys.