‘Unconditional’ Syria talks flayed by Doha

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

Qatar’s emir criticized Tuesday what he claimed were unconditional terms for a proposed peace conference on Syria, saying the talks would lead nowhere and should focus on “achieving justice” for Syria’s people.  Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, whose country has been a main backer of the Syrian rebellion, criticized “attempts by some to substitute achieving justice for the (Syrian) people, who have paid the heaviest price … with unconditional negotiations that lack a timeframe and lead nowhere.”  His remarks come as Washington, Moscow and the United Nations are trying to fix a date for the so-called Geneva II talks bringing all sides together to discuss a political solution to the Syrian conflict.  Speaking at the opening of a new term of the Shoura (consultative) Council in Doha, Sheikh Tamim said talks must “reach a political solution that recognizes the Syrian people’s legitimate demands and is based on a timetable.”

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Saudi-US ties enduring: Kerry

Source: Saudi Gazette (Read full story)

The Kingdom and the United States reiterated here on Monday that they would continue to work together, with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal saying “our two friendly countries” are busy dealing jointly with troublesome issues like Syria, Iran and the Mideast peace process.  “There is no room for emotion and anger here, but rather for policies of commonsense and level-headedness,” Prince Saud said at a joint press conference with Kerry.  “The fact of the matter is that the historic relationship between the two countries has always been based on independence, mutual respect and constructive cooperation,” he said.  He said that “the Kingdom’s declination of membership in the Security Council in no way shape or form amounts to the withdrawing from the United Nations.” He also lamented the international organization’s “failure to make the Middle East a nuclear-free zone.”

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For his part, Kerry said: “This is a deep relationship and it has endured for 75 years and it will endure well into the future […] Our relationship is strategic, it is enduring and it covers a wide range” of issues, Kerry told reporters as he wound up a visit, including a two-hour meeting with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

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OPEC oil output hits two-year low

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

OPEC’s oil output has fallen below 30 million barrels per day for the first time in two years in October, a Reuters survey found, as near-record Saudi Arabian output fails to offset disruption in Libya and lower supply from Iran and Nigeria. Supply from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has averaged 29.90 million barrels per day (bpd), down from a revised 30.01 million bpd in September, according to the survey based on shipping data and information from sources at oil companies, OPEC and consultants. The survey further illustrates the drag on OPEC output from problems in African producers and sanctions on Iran. But rising shale oil supply from the US has limited the outages’ impact on prices, which at $109 a barrel are down over $8 from their 2013 peak.

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