Ex- Saudi Foreign Minister Dies at 75

He was 75.

This seasoned diplomat headed the Saudi foreign policy during the Iraq-Iran war (1980-1988) the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait (1990), the Gulf War that followed (1991).

He retained that incisiveness even as a chronic back complaint and other maladies in recent years made his hands shaky and his speech slurred.

Nawaf al-Faisal, a relative, announced the death on Facebook, while a foreign ministry spokesman also confirmed the death on Twitter and expressed condolences.

“All the neighbourhood, if you will, will be at peace with Israel, will recognise their right to exist”.

The Prime Minister echoed comments by USA secretary of state John Kerry who previously hailed Prince Saud as being “among the wisest” foreign ministers. He was replaced on April 29 by Adel Al Jubeir.

Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayyeb, the head of Egypt’s Al Azhar, praised the late prince as a “man of peace and a balanced and moderate thinker”, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

President Barack Obama said in a statement that generations of USA leaders and diplomats benefited from Saud’s “thoughtful perspective, charisma and poise, and diplomatic skill”. Al-Faisal was the son of Saudi Arabia’s third king, Faisal, who ruled from 1964 until 1975, when he was assassinated.

Israel never accepted the plan, and Prince Saud often cited that the lack of forming a Palestinian state as the biggest disappointment in his career.

Prince Saud spoke seven languages, including Arabic, English, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Hebrew. He was replaced by Crown Prince Salman.

Prince Saud studied economics at Princeton University, where he graduated in 1964.

Saudi Arabia, concerned about Iranian encroachment in the Arab world, in the last days of Prince Saud’s tenure launched an aerial campaign against Iran-allied rebels in neighbouring Yemen.

Saudi Arabia has issued bonds worth 15 billion riyals ($4 billion) to local banks this year to finance its budget deficit, its central bank governor was quoted saying by al-Iqtisadiya daily on Friday.