The Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, made the following statement to the press after his meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House on Tuesday:
“On Thursday, 24 July, a 900-page report was published following a congressional inquiry into the terrorist attacks of 11 September, 2001. In that report, Saudi Arabia is indicted by insinuation. It is an outrage to any sense of fairness that 28 blank pages are now considered substantial evidence to proclaim the guilt of a country that has been a true friend and partner to the United States for over 60 years.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been wrongfully and morbidly accused of complicity in the tragic terrorist attacks of 11 September, 2001. This accusation is based on misguided speculation and is born of fully disguised malicious intent. It has been refuted by consistent public statements of the President and administration officials, especially those who have access to the facts; these officials have praised Saudi Arabia as an active, strong ally in the war on terrorism.
The report seems to have overlooked or intentionally ignored Saudi Arabia’s continuing efforts to fight terrorism. It does not speak to the reality of the actions and
achievements accomplished by the Kingdom. There is no mention of the fact that Saudi Arabia has questioned thousands of individuals, and arrested over 500 suspects since September 11. Saudi actions have not only led to the arrests of key terrorist suspects and the dismantling of their cells in Saudi Arabia, but have also led to similar results in the United States.
In the area of finance, the report did not mention the many steps that have been taken, such as implementation of strict auditing procedures and financial control mechanisms, to ensure that our tradition of charitable giving cannot be abused.
We have nothing to hide, and we do not seek, nor need to be shielded. We believe that releasing the blanked out 28 pages would allow us to respond to any allegations in a clear and credible manner, and remove any doubts about the Kingdom’s true role in, and commitment to, the war against terrorism.
I have conveyed these views in a letter from His Royal Highness Crown Prince Abdullah to President Bush. The President expressed understanding of the Crown Prince’s position, and reiterated his own appreciation of our role in the war against terrorism. The President said that the release of the missing pages at this time would compromise anti-terrorism operations and undermine ongoing investigations, and that anyone who believes that he would cover up for any culpable individual or establishment in the events of 9/11 must be out of touch with reality or driven by ulterior motives.
The President congratulated Saudi Arabia on the actions it has taken in the war against terrorism, and assured me of his, and the United States’ appreciation of the Kingdom’s efforts. The President noted that our nations are not only allies, but also victims in this war.
The fact that we are victims of terrorism and partners in the war against it, as the President said, makes it incumbent upon us effectively to work together, in an environment of mutual trust and confidence, if we are to prevail in this war.”
Source: SPA
