April 21, 2006

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE JAPANESE TELEVISION NHK: CROWN PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ STRESSES THAT TERRORIST ATTACKS DO NOT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE SECURITY OF THE COUNTRY, THE CITIZENS AND OIL FIELDS. THE WORLD HAS TO ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF THE PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS AND SHOULD NOT SUSPEND AID TO PALESTINIANS. OUR SUPPORT TO THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE. SAUDI - U.S. RELATIONS ARE ON EQUAL TERMS. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, described the relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Japan as distinguished and are not subject to political interference or impressions contradictory to the wishes of their peoples. The Prince said the Kingdom is proceeding with its fight against the plague of terrorism and for the protection of the souls of its people and expatriates residing on its territories, lauding, in particular, the efforts exerted by security men in confronting the recently-foiled terrorist attempt in Abqaiq. The Crown Prince said the relations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the United States are on equal terms, describing them as relations of fruitful dealing for building the Saudi citizen by his Saudi leadership under the Islamic Sharia law. This came in an interview with the Japanese Broadcasting and Television NHK. Asked to assess the relations between the Kingdom and Japan since his first official visit to the far east Asian country in 1960, Crown Prince Sultan said the relations with Japan are for acquiring science, progress and technology while giving Japan oil and every support that might help it to become as should be. On the ability of the Saudi security authorities to foil whatever future terrorist actions in the way they did in Abqaiq, he said the people of Saudi Arabia believe that if God Almighty would not like to prevent something from happening it would definitely take place but, as Islam instructs, we have to do whatever we could do to protect our nation, properties, people and guests. Speaking on the occasion, he paid tribute to the Saudi security men who crushed the terrorists who tried to attack the oil facility in Abqaiq and were able to complete the task in two hours and kill or arrest all the culprits, keeping the oil production field unharmed. Casting light on the Kingdom's plan to apprehend the extremists on the black list, Crown Prince said following Abqaiq operation, 42 were arrested, and a number of those who committed crimes against their religion and nation are now in custody and under investigation. For this purpose, a civil court including judges and Islamic scholars, was set up, Prince Sultan said. Asked about the measures taken by the Kingdom, in its capacity as the world's biggest oil exporter, to curb the hiking prices, Crown Prince Sultan said the Kingdom was not pleased of this increase, but the matter is out of its control as there are other factors affecting the price. He cited market, political and investment considerations. What the Kingdom did so far was increasing its supply capacity to 12 million barrels per day, he said, adding that Saudi Arabia would like that consumers and human beings would benefit from this grace and that moderate prices, fair to both producers and consumers, would prevail. On the Saudi politics towards Palestinians following the recent rise of HAMAS to power through elections, Crown Prince Sultan said the Saudi politics towards the Palestinian people was unchangeable since late King Abdulaziz, the founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: support for the Palestinian issue and Palestinian people to restore their territories and return of their country mates on compulsory exile and establish their independent state. As for the support for HAMAS administration, Crown Prince Sultan stated that the Saudi government would not change its policy according to the result of elections, and won't differentiate between HAMAS or non-HAMAS, noting that HAMAS has reached office within the call of the western world to give democracy a chance. The world should accept the democratic choice of the Palestinian people, he said, adding that the world should not cease their assistance to the Palestinian people and punish them for selecting their leaders, noting that if we refrain from providing support due to insignificant differences, we have not to forget that among the Palestinian people are vast numbers of orphans, poor, elders, and needy. Asked to figure out the size of Saudi assistance to Palestine in response to a real humanitarian crisis expected to take place following the stoppage of foreign aid to the Palestinian government, Crown Prince Sultan said the support for the Palestinian people has no one way. First there is the direct support through the Saudi government, he said, citing corporeal assistance and services rendered to some 300,000 Palestinians living in the Kingdom and benefiting from free education and medical treatment and given right to achieve investment, work and partnership with Saudi nationals. Secondly: the Palestinian Fund proposed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz some three to four years ago. Saudi Arabia has deposited an amount of money and urged Arab brother countries to follow suit. These two kinds of support are continuing, he said. Moreover, we don't like to give precise statements on what we are doing as charity or duty for our Palestinian brethren, he stated. The beneficiaries are the ones to be asked about what financial, political or moral support they receive from us or from others, he advised his questioner. Asked about Saudi Arabia's future reforms as regards women full-fledged participation in the society, Crown Prince Sultan noted that what others demanding the Kingdom to do today has started to be done in super countries in 50 to 60 years after independence. Today, the age of the Kingdom is some 70 years, which, he said, started from nothing. He cited that the Kingdom took many years to politically stabilize, exploit oil, and start building the economic, legal and social infrastructure. However, the Saudi people is now among the best and the most stable, developed and growing in the world, he said, adding that he invites the interviewer, a female, for a visit to Saudi Arabia and watch by her own eyes, meet with her Saudi colleagues and see the Saudi markets and psychological stability. In response to a question whether U.S. President George W. Bush's remarks that he was planning to interfere in the Middle East democratization has mounted pressure on the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Sultan expressed belief that the Saudi U.S. relations were not that between a sponsor and his subordinate. No, they are on equal terms relations and based on fruitful dealing to build the Saudi citizen by his Saudi leadership under the Islamic Sharia, he explained, adding that whatever reported that President Bush or other has views against Saudi Arabia is not correct. He accused some parties of trying to wedge differences between Saudi Arabia and super countries, including the U.S. He said Saudi Arabia remains indifferent towards such reports. Asked whether King Abdullah's visits to China and India and Crown Prince Sultan's recently-concluded visit to Japan were designed to build strong ties with Asia, Crown Prince Sultan recalled that invitations have been sent to King Abdullah three years ago to visit Asian countries, but as he was engaged at the time, he accepted the invitations until it became convenient to respond to them. Crown Prince Sultan paid tribute to Saudi Arabia's deep-rooted ties with each of China and India. He refuted reports that there are differences with India as a result of the good relation binding Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. This is not right, we do not differentiate in our dealings with foreign countries; whoever treats us fairly finds reciprocal treatment; we exchange respect and esteem with all countries, he concluded.