IS THIS A GOOD WAY TO START OFF A DIPLOMATIC MISSION? [+] serious ballot by Kev24 created Tue Nov 27, 07 WASHINGTON, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's participation in the U.S.-sponsored talks on Middle East peace was seen as a diplomatic coup for the Bush administration but the kingdom has made clear there will be no handshakes with Israeli officials. "We are not here for theater. We are here for the serious business of making peace. We are not here to give an impression that everything is normal," Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told reporters on Monday, on the eve of the conference to be held in Annapolis, Maryland. "We will not do anything that will divert from the seriousness of the occasion, (such as) shaking hands to give an impression of something that is not there," he said. Saudi Arabia had been noncommittal until last week over whether it would attend the Annapolis conference. The kingdom, which is the birthplace of Islam, has no diplomatic relations with Israel. why won't they shake the hand of their israeli counterpart? this is starting the whole diplomatic mission off on the wrong foot. agree or disagree? they should be true statesman and shake hands it's saudi arabia's right to decline to shake hands a handshake is meaningless anway Ballot #119501 : SEE RESULTS Comment: show your vote with comment?

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