Prince Saud Alfaisal, the Foreign Minister, held here today the periodic press briefing of the Foreign Ministry and answered reporters' questions.
Prince Saud began his briefing with a statement in which he expressed his condolences to families of the victims of recent terrorist acts which occurred in the kingdom. He stressed Saudi resolve to deal with terrorists with an iron fist. He thanked all countries that expressed support for the kingdom.
On Iraq, he called for a swift and genuine transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis, underlining the importance of United Nations' involvement in the transitional period. Prince Saud urged the occupation authority in Iraq to put an end to the horrible violations of the rights of Iraqi prisoners and punish those responsible for them.
As regards the Palestinian issue, the Kingdom looked forward to the next meeting of the International Quartet Committee to resume the initiative and present positive ideas to revive the peace process in accordance with the Road Map and its references, and to compel Israel to live up to its pledges in relation to the initiative, based on the international law, United Nations Security Council's resolutions Nos. 242 and 338 and the principle of land for peace endorsed in Madrid conference. Prince Saud emphasized the importance of providing protection for the Palestinians against Israeli aggressive practices through the disengagement of the two parties by the deployment of an international forces under the umbrella of the United Nations, or as it has been done in other areas of conflicts in the world.
On the latest stand of Likud party, Prince Saud said that it proves that Israeli government policy aims at annexing more Palestinian territories , displacing the people and imposing the so-called new facts on land. These developments of concern in both the Iraqi and Palestinian arenas necessitate the utilization of all efforts and capabilities to confront these very dangerous challenges that threaten our region. We hope that the forthcoming Arab Summit will widely discuss all these matters.
Then Prince Saud answered reporters' questions.
In response to a question on the remarks made by Crown Prince Abdullah early this week linking the terrorist attacks in the Kingdom with the support of international Zionism, Prince Saud said no doubt that Zionist extremist agents spreading in the world are busy launching a fierce campaign against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is no secret that the Saudi dissidents Almasaari and Alfaqih, with whom the leader of the latest attack had strong links according to
the Ministry of Interior's statement, are financed by Israeli associate parties, Prince Saud said, adding that the remarks of Crown Prince Abdullah came in this context.
Asked to explain whether the Kingdom holds the Reformation Movement responsible for the Yanbu terrorist attack and might request the extradition of its London-based leaders - Almasaari and Alfaqih - Prince Saud referred the questioner to his statement at the opening of this conference.
Asked whether the Kingdom would follow suit to warn its citizens from traveling to the U.S., the Minister of Foreign Affairs said it is the right of any country to advise its citizens about travel circumstances from its own point of view. In this regard, he said everybody knows that security measures to protect visitors and expatriates in the Kingdom are as tight as those provided for the protection of its own citizens. He said these measures are considered among the best in the world. Prince Saud said the kingdom is doing all it can to protect all expatriates. He hoped that this will convince the US and Britain that their citizens are safe in the kingdom. He noted that citizens from those two countries expressed confidence in the measures taken and stated their desire to stay despite the warnings.
On Israeli nuclear weapons, Prince Saud reiterated the Arab position demanding that the region should be freed of all weapons of mass destruction. He noted that despite strict dealing with other countries concerning this issue, Israel's possession of weapons of mass destruction is overlooked. Prince Saud hoped that a visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohammad Albaradea to Israel will underscore the danger posed by Israel's possession of nuclear weapons.
As for relations between the Kingdom and the United States of America, Prince Saud said that relations are based on mutual interests and long-term friendship. He added, '' The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an independent state. Our relations with the United States are simultaneously based on this independence, friendship and interests combining the two countries. He noted that the recent media attack on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia demonstrated much confusion amongst American citizen. This confusion should be clarified. Relations should be built on reality not on misinformation and unfounded suspicion.
In reply to another question on a different initiative – the [American] Great Middle East Initiative published in Al-Sharq Al-Awasat newspaper - Prince Saud noted that the Kingdom has not officially received information either about the previous or the new one. He stressed that reform should come from inside, not from outside or under foreign pressure.
On solidarity of citizens and security men in confronting the deviant group [committing acts of terror] in the Kingdom, Prince Saud expressed the Kingdom's appreciation of this cohesion. He pointed out that these criminals and blasphemers are contrary to religion, citing the Kingdom's Grand Mufti who has said they are infidels, since they kill for the sake of killing. The battle against this malicious germ will be over soon, Prince Saud said. Prince Saud said all people especially Muslim scholars in the kingdom disapprove of the terrorist acts.
Responding to a question, Prince Saud said that what he had said during his recent visit to the US was that if the kingdom was accused of what Osamah bin Laden had done, the US should be accused as much because both the US and the kingdom had helped the Mujahideen in Afghanistan to resist the Soviet attack and opened the way for people such bin Laden to commence this action. Prince Saud added that bin Laden adopted terrorism not because of the education he had received in the kingdom but because of the directions he had received from a deviant group, a splinter of Muslim Brothers, which had been present in Afghanistan.
Replying to another question on inter-Arab differences that led to the postponement of the Arab Summit, Prince Saud said that he does not believe that there were differences that can be mentioned leading to the postponement. He noted that the postponement period led to deep studies of some important topics particularly the Palestinian issue and the situation in Iraq. He pointed out that the perspectives of these two problems have been greatly changed.
On U.S. media malicious campaigns against the Kingdom, Prince Saud said that he had noted a change in some [sections of the] media in that they recognised that many charges leveled at the Kingdom are baseless and incorrect.
He added that we have a responsibility to clarify our stands, indicating that the Kingdom is open to the international press to pursue fact.
Prince Saud rejected any connection between the warning of the U.S. administration to its citizens not to travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the terrorist attack in Yanbu not so long after. He noted that western governments managed to warn their citizens of the danger of traveling to tense regions so that they could not be blamed if a serious accident took place in that region. He urged western partners to exchange security information rather than resort to speculations that could be misinterpreted by the media.
On the soaring oil prices, Prince Saud said the Kingdom advocates moderate oil prices which he said benefit U.S. citizens. He said the U.S.- Saudi relations will never be marred by reverse policies in the oil market.
He quoted the Saudi senior negotiator at the WTO accession negotiations as saying he is optimistic that by the end of this year the Kingdom will obtain the membership of the organization. He cited the successes accomplished by the Saudi negotiating team. Few specific points of negotiations remain before the Saudi U.S. negotiators, he said, adding that he believes that thorny issues have been overcome.
