HIGHLIGHTS: No Concrete Results Beyond Building a Personal Relationship.
A Stern Saudi Warning To Bush.
(Read photo caption within).

STORYPresident Bush and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah tried to breathe new life into Abdullah's Mideast peace initiative, a point of agreement in a relationship tarnished by disputes over terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian crisis itself.
No concrete progress resulted from the five-hour session on Bush's ranch Thursday, but both camps said that by building a personal relationship, the two leaders had made progress in improving U.S.-Saudi relations and perhaps the Mideast peace process.

The relationship between the United States and the Saudi kingdom has seen more conflict than cooperation recently, and the crown prince delivered a stern warning to Bush that his support for Israel was damaging prospects for Mideast peace and undermining U.S. credibility in the Arab world.

According to Saudi sources, Abdullah urged Bush to pressure Israel to free Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from house arrest, and "explained to the president the dangers of the continuing stalemate and the importance of negotiating with the Palestinians. "

Bush went no further after the meeting than repeating his demand that "all parties" - Israelis, Palestinians and Arab neighbors - have "responsibilities" in pushing for peace.

Nevertheless, Abdullah decided to remain in the United States for a couple more days - a sign that the crown prince did not view the session as fruitless.

With Abdullah remaining in the United States, White House officials said they would continue to tend to the relationship. On Friday, Abdullah was taking a train with Bush's father, the first President Bush, from Houston to College Station, Texas, for lunch.

PHOTO CAPTION:


President George W. Bush greets Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah at his home in Crawford, Texas, April 25, 2002. Arab commentators and officials said they expected little, if any, progress from a meeting between Bush and the Crown Prince. Photo by Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
- Apr 25 3:00 PM ET