December 1, 2006

THE SAUDI LEADERSHIP REVIEWS WITH THE AMERICAN VICE PRESIDENT THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE REGION AND THE SITUATION IN IRAQ AND THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES. PRINCE NAIF BIN ABDUL AZIZ DENIES THE PRESENCE OF SAUDI INFILTRATORS IN IRAQ. PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL: THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA RESPECTS ITS COMMITMENTS AND DOES NOT INTERFERE IN OTHER PEOPLES' AFFAIRS. PRINCE TURKI AL-FAISAL: WE HAVE GONE A LONG WAY ON THE PATH TO MODERNIZATION. THE ARAB LEAGUE CONDEMNS THE VIOLENCE IN IRAQ AND CALLS ON THE PALESTINIANS TO SET UP A GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received at his palace in Riyadh the US Vice President Dick Cheney and accompanying delegation. King Abdullah and Cheney held a round of talks, at the outset of which King Abdullah welcomed Cheney, wishing him and the accompanying delegation good stay in the kingdom. On his part, Cheney thanked the king for warm reception and generous hospitality accorded to him and his delegation. During the meeting, Cheney conveyed to King Abdullah the greetings of US President George W. Bush. In turn, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques sent his greetings to the President. Then the overall developments at the regional and international arenas, led by the Palestinian issue and the situation in Iraq were discussed in addition to aspects of cooperation between the two countries and ways of enhancing them in all fields. On the Saudi side, the meeting was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Mit'eb Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor Riyadh Region; Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Prince Abdul-Ilah Bin Abdul Aziz; Prince Miqren Bin Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Bandar Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of National Security Council; Prince General Mit'eb Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Assistant Deputy Commander of the National Guard for Military Affairs; Prince Mohammed Bin Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs; Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Advisor to the King; Prince Dr. Bandar Bin Salman Bin Mohammed Al Saud, Advisor to the King; Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Chief of the Saudi Arabian Red Crescent; And Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet and Chief of the Court of the Cabinet's Presidency. On the American side, the meeting was attended by US Ambassador to the kingdom James Oberwetter and members of the official accompanying delegation of Dick Cheney. Then King Abdullah held a dinner party in honour of the US Vice President attended by the official delegations of the two countries. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and US Vice President Dick Cheney discussed issues that affect the region, including the escalation of violence in Iraq and Israel's shelling of a Gaza home recently that killed 18 people. Cheney arrived on a one-day official visit to the Kingdom and was received by Crown Prince Sultan, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense and Aviation, Riyadh Governor Prince Salman, Head of Saudi Intelligence Prince Miqrin, Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, as well as other senior officials and ministers. The US Embassy in Riyadh said the US Vice President arrived in the afternoon and met with the king shortly after. Cheney's visit comes two days after Sunni insurgents in Baghdad murdered 215 people with car bombs in a Shiite neighborhood, which has prompted revenge attacks and elevated the risk of all-out civil war. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries are deeply concerned over the West's confrontation with Iran over that nation's nuclear facilities. Gulf countries worry about the possibility of Iran developing nuclear weapons and its attempts to expand its influence in the Middle East. Cheney was also scheduled to speak with Saudi leaders about the situation in Palestine. Earlier, the Saudi government had expressed its "regret" over the US veto of a recent UN draft resolution criticizing Israel's shelling of a home in Gaza, killing at least 18 people. Dick Cheney, US Vice President, left Riyadh after a brief state visit to the kingdom. At Riyadh air base, he was seen off by Prince Miqren Bin Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Bandar Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of the National Security Council; Major General Mohammed Bin Salim Al-Ma'atani, Commander of Riyadh Air Base, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom James Oberwetter and a representative of the royal protocol. On the other hand Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister, chaired the 13th meeting of the governors of the regions. They reviewed a number of issues including financial fraudulent practices, foreigner who illegally stay back, persons suffering from psychological problems as well as means for activation of the councils of the regions. The meeting was attended by Prince Ahmad Bin Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Interior Minister, and a number of senior officials. Speaking on the occasion, Prince Naif urged the concerned authorities, notably the ministry of commerce and industry, and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) to take the appropriate measures for preventing any form of financial fraudulent practices. Prince Naif also underscored the importance of cooperation of the citizens with the concerned authorities in fighting the phenomenon of illegally staying back in the kingdom. Moreover, Prince Naif called for fighting the phenomenon of beggars. On the measures taken by the kingdom to prevent infiltration across the borders to Iraq, Prince Naif said as regards the Saudi land borders there are no infiltrators, and if there are some infiltrators, their number is very limited and little. He urged the parents and families to cooperate with the concerned authorities in fighting this unacceptable phenomenon. Meantime Saudi Arabia will take tougher action against foreigners overstaying their visas as well as against Saudis and expatriates who employ, transport or accommodate such illegal residents, Interior Minister Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz said. He said the government would also adopt stringent measures to prevent investment firms from cheating their shareholders. "We'll combat overstayers by strictly and quickly imposing punishment, first, on those who employ them, second on those who accommodate them, and third on those who transport them," Prince Naif told reporters after presiding over a meeting of regional governors. "All of them will receive tough punishment as they deal with illegals." Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received the governors at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh and urged them to work for improving the welfare and well-being of citizens and residents. The King emphasized the significance of the annual governors' meeting, saying it would help exchange ideas and come out with constructive proposals. Prince Naif said the Passport Department officers would continue to arrest overstayers and deport them. Over the past months, the officers have nabbed thousands of illegal aliens in Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah including those who overstayed their Hajj and Umrah visas. Prince Naif warned that Hajj and Umrah agents who fail to stop their pilgrims from overstaying would find their licenses cancelled. Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz indicated that illegal overstayers were the main reason for the growing number of crimes and immoral activities in the country. "Citizens must cooperate with the Interior Ministry to stop the phenomenon of overstaying," "They should know that there is punishment for accommodating, transporting and employing overstayers. We will not accept any excuses." Prince Naif's statement comes ahead of the Hajj season when a large number of Asians and Africans come to the Kingdom holding Hajj visas with the intention of seeking jobs. "We know that the temptation is low wages but people should give priority to national interests," said the prince. "We don't want to snowball the problem of illegals like in some countries. Many people like to come to our country for jobs. We want the citizens to cooperate with us. We don't want to punish them but if they don't cooperate we'll strictly apply the punishments." He said the Riyadh meeting had also discussed the issue of the growing number of beggars in the Kingdom's major cities, adding that the beggars, Saudis and foreigners alike, would be punished. Begging has become a lucrative business in the country as illegal begging rackets smuggle in handicapped men, women and children from different countries to make quick money. According to one report, annual revenues of beggars are estimated at more than SR500 million. The interior minister emphasized the Kingdom's determination to prevent intrusion of people into Iraq through Saudi borders. He said most Saudis who had gone to Iraq to fight alongside insurgents entered Iraq through other countries. "As you know citizens are free to travel to any country," he said. "They will go to one country and from there to Iraq. We are trying by all means to bring them back to the Kingdom." The minister also said that the Kingdom would not impose any travel restrictions on its citizens travelling abroad for business or treatment or tourism. Prince Naif urged parents and families to play their part to prevent their sons from going to Iraq: "If you cannot stop them, inform us; we can stop them." In Riyadh Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, inaugurated the periodical meeting of the Saudi Ambassadors. The meeting aims at activation of coordination between the Saudi embassies and the foreign ministry as well as evaluating the performance of the Saudi embassies. Speaking on the occasion, Prince Saud said the conference will provide a good opportunity to discuss the ideal means of dealing with the regional and international developments. He underlined the importance of updating and modernizing the diplomatic work. He noted that the responsibility of the ambassador is not only confined to projecting the problems, but it also includes taking appropriate means for the solution of these problems. Prince Saud noted that the foreign ministry has made big strides in opening the door for women to join it. He noted that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a deep-rooted history in formulating the regional and international systems, and it is an effective member of numerous regional and international organizations. He lauded the kingdom's role in supporting the Arab and Muslim causes as well as its role in enhancing the pillars of global peace and security. "moreover, the kingdom has been unwaveringly extending assistance to victims of natural disasters," he noted. Prince Saud said the kingdom does not interfere in the domestic affairs of others and at the same time it does not allow others to interfere in its domestic affairs. The kingdom which includes the holy places, has been enjoying a great political weight', he said. He hoped that the meeting will realize the following results: -projecting the kingdom's moderate policy. -a working plan for carrying out the concerns of the custodian of the two holy mosques and his government which aim at serving the kingdom's interests giving priority to the interests of the citizens as well as realizing the kingdom's economic interests and activating its partnership at the bilateral and multi-party arenas. -projecting the kingdom's cultural and social concepts. -activating and developing the balanced media work. -development of the administrative, financial and technical methods. -development of bases of data and studies. -projecting the kingdom's principles and trends through the performance of the ministry's personnel. The ambassadors review during their 5-day meeting, the regional and international problems and the kingdom's stand towards these problems. The five-day periodical meeting of Saudi ambassadors posted abroad was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh to activate coordination between Saudi embassies and the General Administration of the ministry. It evaluated and developed the performance of embassies and exchanged views over the existing plans and programs. The meeting discussed international and regional issues and their developments as well as the Kingdom's positions and efforts in this context. The program of Saudi ambassadors' meeting includes holding meetings with Ministers in the State bodies engaged in external works in order to develop coordination between Saudi embassies and such bodies as well as exchanging views on issues related to their tasks on the external arena in a way that serves the interests of the country and citizens. In New York Prince Turki Al-Faisal delivered a speech at New York University School of Law in New York City on November 16, 2006. Following is the text of the speech: Dr Noah Feldman, Dr. Bernard Haykel, thank you for inviting me to talk at your prestigious university. Ladies and gentlemen: I appreciate you taking the time to join me here today. I always look forward to speaking before students. It is a privilege to be able to contribute what I can to your understanding of issues that are of great importance to our two nations. Over the course of the last year, I have traveled to more than 25 states and talked with students at numerous colleges and universities Kansas State, the University of Chicago, Tufts, Harvard, MIT, Georgetown, and several others. I have been listening to young people voice their questions and concerns about the relations between the U.S. and my country. I view this interaction as the most important aspect of my job as Ambassador. I enjoy listening to and sharing distinct viewpoints. I believe, for this reason, you are all very fortunate to be receiving an education at an institution such as NYU. You not only have exposure to renowned professors; you also have New York City, which is an education in multiculturalism and internationalism unto itself. I always enjoy spending time in the Big Apple. Ladies and Gentlemen: Because the last few months have been saturated with talk of politics and government policy, I am going to digress from these concerns. Instead, I will take this time to discuss a topic that I don't often have the opportunity to address. And that is Saudi youth. I would like to share with you a picture of what's going on in the Kingdom today. Specifically, I'd like to talk about how we are making space in society for our younger citizens, and how we are preparing them to take a place in the global community. These types of considerations are naturally important for all governments. It is a matter of making sure our nation is prepared for tomorrow. But in Saudi Arabia, a great deal is going on. Many initiatives are underway to secure a future for our children politically, economically, and socially. And we are doing so for a number of reasons. One reason is a matter of demographics. The oil boom years of the 1970s created wealth, and the wealth was used to develop our nation. Infant mortality rates dropped significantly, and life-expectancy increased among Saudis. As a way to help its people, the government put in place a social welfare system. This was designed to take care of our citizens from the cradle to the grave: free education, free healthcare, interest-free mortgages for first-time homebuyers, interest-free loans for small businesses, and subsidies for farmers. As a consequence, many Saudis began large families. And their children are now a part of the generation coming into the workforce. For them and the following generation, we've had to be prepared. Another reason is a matter of generational interplay. Like you, your Saudi peers have grown up in a different world than their elders. Unlike you, the difference is actually quite dramatic. Some fifty years ago, Saudi Arabia was still primarily a nomadic society, with few large cities. For most people in the Kingdom, tribal association remained stronger than national identity. About thirty years ago, as I mentioned, many changes began to take place. The Kingdom opened to telecommunications. We began to build modern hospitals and schools, skyscrapers and malls, highways and airports where a few decades earlier only desert existed. New challenges came quickly as Saudi Arabia's place in the world grew. My generation saw Saudi King Faisal assassinated. We lived through the regional turmoil of the oil embargo of the mid-70s. We witnessed the seizure of the Grand Mosque at Makkah by extremists in '79. These were all events that drastically altered the world view of older Saudis as Vietnam, Watergate, and the deaths of leaders, such as President Kennedy did for most Americans. For Saudi youth, the amount of political, cultural and societal change their parents and grandparents have seen in such a short period of time is difficult to grasp. My generation saw modern Saudi Arabia built. This generation was born into it. As the Kingdom continues to grow and modernize, and as young Saudis today face their own set of challenges the online revolution and satellite TV, globalization and the new economy we want to be sure they are sufficiently grounded in their heritage and culture. The Nobel Laureate Pearl Buck said: "One faces the future with one's past." This has been the mantra of Saudis for the last three generations. Our Islamic heritage and our traditions have held firm the fabric of our society despite a virtual revolution of modernity. The governing of our nation has been grounded in the Islamic Shari'ah and Arab tribal custom and we have remained a pillar of stability in the face of a tumultuous region. We have worked diligently to strike a balance between providing for the modern welfare of our people and obtaining a consensus from our citizens about what type of change they can manage. We have been successful. Saudis are being prepared. They are being educated, and they are being protected from deviant and corruptive influences. We are making sure of this, ladies and gentlemen, because our children truly are the keys to the Kingdom. How have we been doing this? Saudi Arabia has been helping its citizens particularly its young citizens in two ways. First, we have been taking steps to improve how Saudis view the world. And second, we have been taking steps to improve how the world views Saudis. To address this first point how Saudis view the world the Kingdom has undertaken a series of ongoing initiatives to increase participation in government, to improve economic opportunity, and to modernize learning. Saudis want the same as anyone else opportunity, education and a good job. We need to give them the tools to succeed and interact in the global community. One of Saudi Arabia's most significant steps to open Saudis up to the world was to join the World Trade Organization. As a consequence, more Saudi products will have access to the global marketplace, creating jobs and opportunities for our citizens. And it will also encourage more international investments and products to come to the Kingdom. It is also important as a way for us to diversity our economy away from oil. I assure you, ladies and gentlemen, the oil will be flowing for a long while to come, but Saudi Arabia cannot live on oil alone. We are encouraging the development of banking, information technology and other industries. If we are to build a skill set for tomorrow's economy, we must start today. This, of course, goes along with the important initiatives Saudi Arabia continues to make to upgrade its educational system. The Kingdom is in the process of reviewing all of its education practices and materials, and is removing any element that is inconsistent with the needs of a modern education. Not only are we eliminating what might be perceived as intolerance from old text books that were in our system, we have implemented a comprehensive internal revision and modernization plan. New curricula emphasize critical thinking, math, and science, and these curricula also emphasize the teaching of true Islamic values and the positive skills necessary for good citizenship and productivity, as well as how to safeguard community in peace, the environment, health and human rights. In every level of education, from grade school to high school to college, the government has gone so far as to sponsor lectures that promote moderation and tolerance. Even kindergarteners are made aware of the importance of tolerance and peace. Saudis cannot deny that terrorism and extremism pose a serious threat and can be a corruptive influence to youth. So we are making sure our young citizens learn about its evils and understand the true nature of our Islamic faith. All of these programs and others such as the National Dialogues, which promote the public exchange of ideas on topics like women in society and youth help to improve the outlook of Saudis on the world. If they are to compete globally, they must be able to think globally. This is why Saudi Arabia rejuvenated a scholarship program to send Saudi students to colleges and universities abroad. They can learn, make friends, and experience foreign cultures. In the first phase of the program, 10,000 students were offered full, four-year scholarships. Most of them I would say 95% of them -- will study in the United States. Ladies and Gentlemen: The Saudi scholarship program actually brings me to the second way the Kingdom is helping its youth. In addition to giving Saudis a positive perspective, we have also been taking steps to improve the world's view of the Saudi people. And the scholarship program figures into this effort perfectly. By sending our students abroad, we are not only providing them with a world-class education, we are, in a way, sending a fleet of envoys around the world. These students are the true Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia. They will be out forming friendships and relationships that will break down barriers of misunderstanding between our cultures. They will be actively demonstrating what we have in common. This is critical because there are a great number of unfair misperceptions out there about Saudi Arabia. Whether they are related to misunderstanding about the nature of Islam, or are vicious stereotypes derived from the actions of terrorists and extremists, these weigh heavily on the Saudi people. Adding to the issue is the fact that news media and popular culture provide a poor window through which the Kingdom is viewed. As educated as I have found Americans during my time in this country, I still encounter people who believe Saudis ride to work on camels; that our women are all oppressed and chained to the kitchen; and that our countryside is only filled with gushing oil wells. We can certainly shoulder the responsibility for some of this. Saudis are a private people. In recent years, though, we've opened up our country to a great extent. We welcome journalists and academics. We welcome government officials and businesspeople. We welcome you all as well. If you came to the Kingdom, you would see a burgeoning society, whose youth are urban and increasingly sophisticated. They go to Starbucks and Internet cafes, not that those are signs of sophistication. They travel extensively, and they have embraced their Saudi identity. You would also see the modernizing nation in which they were raised and will soon be full participants. Saudi surgeons are pioneering new techniques to separate conjoined twins and perform organ transplants. Saudi women are opening businesses in new industries every day. They now have ownership stakes in almost 25,000 companies in the Kingdom. Last year the Saudi stock exchange set records, and is now, by far, the largest emerging market in the world, with a market capitalization exceeding $700 billion. Technology has been integrated into our society and economy, and is driving our performance. In the last five years, internet usage has grown by more than 1,000 percent, and this year, we are sending into space six communications and observation satellites. We want the world to be aware of all of this. But we also want you to know that as we continue to build our society and participate in the world community, we are making sure we are doing so in a way that is consistent with our traditions. If our young citizens are going to be able to manage the challenges of the next century, they must have the character and moral fiber to make the right decisions. In talking about my nation's efforts to guide its youth, I am reminded of the words of the American author Jack Kerouac. He said: "All of life is a foreign country." A more prescient statement could not have been made about the world today. So as your generation seeks its own path, please keep in mind what we impart to the youth of Saudi Arabia. That is, some experiences you may have will closely resemble those of others. Some will be different. But it is critical to remember that although our language, our dress, and our customs may be different, our hopes, our aspirations, and our dreams are all the same. Ashkurukum shukran jazeelan thank you all very much and barak Allah feekum and God bless you all. Arab League (AL) Secretary General Amr Moussa condemned the spate of blasts that rocked a Shiite militia stronghold in eastern Baghdad. In a statement, Moussa condemned those involved in the criminal acts, saying that they were aiming at fomenting sectarian division in the war-ravaged Iraq. The AL chief called on all Iraqi sects to face such violent acts and thwart attempts by those who target Iraq's unity and stability. Moussa also urged Iraqi religious and political leaders to shoulder their responsibilities at the critical moment. He also calls for a meeting at the level of Arab foreign ministers to be held to discuss the latest developments on the Iraqi arena. The Iraqi Interior Ministry imposed an indefinite curfew on Baghdad after the series of bombings rocked the Shiite district of Sadr City, which left over 200 people dead and another 250 wounded. Arab foreign ministers issued a resolution calling for a peace conference to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Egyptian official news agency MENA reported. Wrapping up their emergency Arab League (AL) meetings, foreign Ministers and representatives of 22 members of AL called for a peace conference which would be attended by Arab parties, Israel and the UN Security Council (UNSC) permanent member states. The resolution said that the conference should clinch a comprehensive and just solution to the Arab-Israel conflict at all levels in line with the relevant international resolutions and the land for peace principle. The AL urgent meeting came one day after the United States vetoed an Arab-sponsored UN Security Council draft resolution which sought to condemn the deadly Israeli attack in Gaza and urge an immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from there. The resolution also suggested that an Arab ministerial delegation should be formed from the AL member states, along with the AL secretary general Amr Moussa for talks with key international players, topped by the International Quartet and the UN to make efforts to revive the Mideast peace process. The international community should shoulder responsibility and resume aids to the Palestinians, their taxes should be released and returned to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), said the resolution. Meanwhile, the resolution condemned the incessant Israeli hostilities in the Palestinian territories, particularly the recent Israeli crime in Beit Hanoun where at least 18 Palestinians were killed, mostly women and children. It expressed deep resentment at the United States for vetoing a draft Arab resolution of the UNSC which condemns Israel. According to the resolution, the Arab states called for an international probe into the recent Beit Hanoun massacring along with dispatching an international force to protect the Palestinians. The resolution, at the same time, called for the release of the captured Israeli soldier instantly and an end to the siege imposed on the Palestinians. It asked all Palestinian parties to swiftly line up a national unity government to confront the dangerous challenges be setting the Palestinian people. "Arab countries have never participated in the blockade imposed on the Palestinian people," Moussa said at a press conference after the meeting with the Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Khalifa, who is the chairman of the urgent meeting. "If some powers opt for going ahead with the siege, Arab countries will not take part in it, and will offer financial and material assistance to the Palestinian people," Moussa added. Moussa also said that Arab countries will resort to the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council to issue a resolution condemning the Israeli brutalities against the Palestinians.