Ireland's €60 million annual trade in beef with Saudi Arabia could reopen soon following a clear signal that the Middle Eastern kingdom is considering lifting a BSE-related ban.
The Saudi ambassador to Ireland and the UK, Prince Turki al-Faisal, said it was "probable" the ban, which was imposed four years ago, would be lifted.
It is likely Saudi Arabia will open a resident embassy in Dublin shortly, Prince Turki also told The Irish Times. At present, Saudi Arabia handles relations with Ireland through its embassy in London.
Speaking yesterday after a meeting with the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, he said both governments had agreed to work together to try to lift the ban. Irish officials had demonstrated to their Saudi counterparts the measures taken to limit the spread of BSE and these contacts would continue.
Prince Turki said he had recommended to his government that a resident embassy be opened in Ireland. This was a recognition of the reality, which was that Ireland was an important player on the world stage.
Riyadh was "receptive" to the idea, but anxious that the right people be appointed. Ireland already has an embassy in the Saudi capital.
Prince Turki, who is due to meet the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, today, is anxious to promote greater trade between the two countries. While half of all Irish exports to the Arab world go to Saudi Arabia, the volume of trade has been declining in recent years. "This is clearly an aberration, because your country is booming, and so is mine."
Saudi Arabia is the biggest market in the Arab world, and the biggest consumer of goods, he pointed out. "It's the furnace that keeps other Arab economies going."
A former head of the Saudi intelligence services, Prince Turki met Osama bin Laden on several occasions and was involved in attempts to have him extradited from Afghanistan to Saudi Arabia in 1998.
