February 15, 2005

Good evening. Your Royal Highness Prince Saud Al Faisal, General Anderson, distinguished guests. Sixty years ago, on February 14, 1945, King AbdulAziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, met with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt aboard the U.S.S. Quincy. It is an honor and a privilege to mark this important anniversary with you here tonight at the official residence of the Ambassador of the United States, Quincy House.

Earlier today, Crown Prince Abdullah received me. I conveyed President Bush’s greetings, and delivered a letter from the President addressed to King Fahd. And a few hours from now, in Miami, Florida, I understand, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud will host another dinner in honor of this 60th anniversary. So let us raise our glasses and salute the two great leaders who began the enduring relationship--and long-lasting friendship--between our two nations.

The Crown Prince and I spoke of the changes that have taken place in the past 60 years this afternoon. The meeting between King AbdulAziz and President Roosevelt was conducted amid great secrecy. It was the first time the King had traveled outside Saudi Arabia. We are honored to have with us tonight someone who was present at that meeting. Hassan Yassin was then a child, traveling with his father, who served as the King's international affairs advisor.

In the intervening years, a generation of Saudis have gone to the United States as students, and returned here to take up positions of leadership, including our guest of honor, Prince Saud, the Foreign Minister. Others among you have established business interests and partnerships in America, much to our mutual benefit. Still others here present have received specialized training at our top-flight military and research institutes. We are pleased to welcome all of you as friends in our home.

It is my hope and belief that Saudi-American friendships will continue into the next generation. Thousands of Americans have helped build Saudi Arabia’s vital petroleum industry--several are here tonight--as well as other businesses. I count myself among you, at least symbolically, since I am the son of an American oil worker. Many other Americans have worked over the years in the Kingdom’s hospitals and in the field of education, and they are also well represented now. Americans have also helped defend the Kingdom in threatening times. General Anderson’s presence illustrates that our military-to-military relationship continues as both our countries confront the new challenges of our time.

I would like, finally, to say a few words about the three new American diplomats who greeted you as you entered. One was inspired to choose this career after befriending Arab and Muslim students in the United States. One is of Palestinian origin, with a personal understanding of both the Middle East and America. And one, a relative of Colonel William Eddy, is continuing a family tradition of U.S. government service. Colonel Eddy acted as interpreter for King AbdulAziz and President Roosevelt aboard the U.S.S. Quincy sixty years ago. As you may know, later, Colonel Eddy became the first Minister Counselor of the United States to the Kingdom and took up residence in Jeddah, then the capital of Saudi Arabia.

On behalf of all those serving at our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulates General in Jeddah and Dhahran, and on behalf of the government of the United States, let me again say what an honor and privilege it is to mark this 60th anniversary with you, in the spirit of friendship. Thank you very much.

Source: US Embassy Riyadh

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