Minister of foreign affairs clears issues and refutes media allegations

Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Al-Faisal, accompanying Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz on his official visit to the United States, took the opportunity to clear some issues and refute unfounded allegations made by some segments of the U.S. media. Appearing on TV news shows, he addressed the following topics:

TERRORISM

In an interview with CNN aired on April 26, Prince Saud emphasized that Saudi Arabia has been an active supporter of the U.S.-led war on international terrorism. Denying suggestions that the Kingdom has not been responsive to the war against terrorism, he declared: “We are exchanging information, squeezing the terrorist organizations of resources to mount any operation and in every way are cooperating with the international effort.”

That view was echoed by Crown Prince Abdullah’s foreign policy advisor Adel Al-Jubeir, who told MSNBC that the Kingdom is on the same side with the United States in the fight against terrorism and that it has moved to cut any flow of funds to terrorist groups. “We have provided everything that was asked of us, yet people still doubt our sincerely and our commitment to this,” he said.

AID TO PALESTINIANS

In an appearance on ABC Television on April 28, Prince Saud denounced media reports accusing the Kingdom of supporting terrorism because it has offered assistance to the people of Palestine. Saudi Arabia, he said, has sent financial assistance to the Palestinian National Authority to enable it to rebuild its infrastructure, which has been destroyed by Israeli forces. Saudi Arabia has also sent money as humanitarian assistance directly to the Palestinian people through organizations such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. “It is strange and ridiculous,” he declared, “to accuse a country for its humanitarian assistance to needy people. The Kingdom categorically denies that it encourages terrorism through the humanitarian assistance it provides to Palestinians who have lost their loved ones.  I think it is deeply disturbing that at this time when we need people to provide more humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, whose homes have been destroyed, whose hope has been destroyed, if humanitarian aid goes to them, it should be praised and not confused with aid to terrorism,” he said.

Commenting on the U.S. coverage of the Kingdom’s recent fund-raising telethon for Palestinians, he affirmed that the aim of the campaign was to provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, who face on a daily basis killing, destruction and displacement as a result of Israel’s military aggression.

Appearing on Fox News, Mr. Al-Jubeir concurred, saying: “We have made it very clear in terms of where Saudi funding is going to … [it] has gone to humanitarian assistance to the families who have suffered as a result of the Israeli occupation and the recent Israeli aggression,” he said. “We do not support suicide bombers.”

U.S. CREDIBILITY

In a CNN interview on April 24, Prince Saud said there is a perception among people in the Middle East that the United States is not exerting enough effort toward peace in the region, and one of the primary objectives of Crown Prince Abdullah’s meeting with President George W. Bush on April 25 was to make the U.S. aware of this view, which he characterized as a threat to U.S. credibility in the Arab and Muslim worlds. “We have been very concerned about the erosion of credibility for the United States in the Arab and Muslim worlds, and we have been very concerned about the spiraling cycle of violence with the continuation of this conflict.”

Appearing on CNN, Mr. Al-Jubeir said Saudi Arabia understands that America has a special relationship with Israel. “America as a friend and patron of Israel has an obligation to look after Israel’s interests. And sometimes the U.S. ought to step in and tell Israel that its actions are doing damage to Israel and by extension to the United States and to stability and security in the region, and that Israel should modify its behavior,” he added.

Crown Prince Abdullah told President Bush, Mr. Al-Jubeir said, that the Administration has to realize that U.S. interests are at stake in the region, far beyond the United States’ long-term relationship with Israel. “When we urge the U.S. to take steps to ensure peace and security in the region,” he said, “it’s because it serves America’s interests and it serves our interests. 

“What we can do as friends of the U.S. is make the U.S. aware of the dangers that can befall it in terms of loss of credibility and loss of interests in the Arab and Muslim world. We cannot force the U.S. to do what we believe is in America’s best interests.”

SAUDI-U.S. RELATIONS

Prince Saud also spoke of the depth and strength of Saudi-U.S. relations. In an interview on PBS’s Charlie Rose program, Mr. Al-Jubeir said the U.S.-Saudi relationship remains solid and strong.  The visit allowed President Bush and Crown Prince Abdullah “to take each other’s measure” and establish a good relationship. He noted that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have “no problems in our bilateral relationship.  The problems that exist are problems that affect both of us and that we both want to find solutions for because it is in our interests to do so. We firmly believe that the continued violence in the territories, that the continued inability to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict does grave damage to America’s interests. It does grave damage to our interests and it causes further instability in the region, and therefore it is crucial for the United States and everybody else to do all they can to try to bring about a settlement.”

Appearing on MSNBC, Mr. Al-Jubeir said “It would seem to me that after 60 years of solid friendship, where we have weathered many storms, people would stop questioning our commitment to this relationship.”

THREATS

Appearing on ABC Television, Prince Saud denied reports that Saudi Arabia was considering the use of oil as a weapon against the United States if the Bush Administration does not take a more forceful stand in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli crisis. He offered assurances that the Kingdom would not do so, saying: “This is the policy of Saudi Arabia.”

The prince also rejected reports that Saudi Arabia was threatening the United States. “There was media speculation that the Crown Prince was pressing for one thing and the President for another; that there were threats,” he said. “This was a discussion between friends. And threats are not ways to discuss things amongst friends. God knows, we have enough threats in the region without those working for peace starting to threaten each other. There were no threats. … It was a friendly discussion, a warm discussion, but a frank and sincere one at the same time,” Prince Saud said of the Crown Prince’s talks with President Bush. 

“Oil is not a weapon, oil is not to be used for political purposes,” said Mr. Al-Jubeir on CNN on April 25. “We have a responsibility to the global economic system and to ensure adequate and stable supplies of crude oil. So that’s not an issue.”

He also denied media reports that threats were made. “We came as friends who spoke very sincerely and very clearly about the dangers that could occur to American credibility and interests and the credibility and interests of America’s friends,” he told CBS’ Face the Nation. “Friends don’t threaten friends,” he told CNN. “The reports that appeared with regards to threats or oil embargo and so forth are absolutely not true and have no basis whatsoever in fact,” Mr. Al-Jubeir said. “Using oil as a weapon is absolutely not on the table. Oil should be depoliticized because oil is so important. It is a tremendous responsibility that Saudi Arabia bears, and Saudi Arabia acts in a responsible manner in this case.”