Editor's Note:
U.S.
Secretary of State Colin Powell emphasized the
strength of the relationship between the United
States and Saudi Arabia in a press briefing on
March 19 after meetings with Crown Prince
Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and Foreign
Minister Saud Al-Faisal in Riyadh.
The
following is the official transcript of the
Powell-Al-Faisal briefing.
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"..We're
united in the war against terror. I
expressed my appreciation to the Foreign
Minister and the Crown Prince for all they
have been doing in the war against terror
and we've seen some real successes here
recently in the destruction of cells and
in dealing with those terrorists who are
trying to take advantage of Saudi Arabia's
hospitality and some very significant
individuals were killed recently who were
bringing terror not only to Saudi Arabia
but to other parts of the region. So our
relationship is strong
.."
-
Secretary of State Colin Powell |
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Press
Briefing by Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud
Al-Faisal
Riyadh
,
Saudi Arabia
March 19, 2004
FOREIGN
MINISTER AL-FAISAL: (In Arabic) In the name
of God, the Graceful the Merciful. First of all,
I would like to welcome His Excellency the
Secretary of State for his visit, and His
Excellency provided extensive, important and
constructive discussions with the Crown Prince,
which included many subjects. That's why my
comments are going to be short because His
Excellency was supposed to fly out at
9 pm
. To give the journalists a chance, we are going
to have two questions from each side. Two
questions from the American press,
and two questions from Saudi press. And when I
say two questions, I mean two questions, not two
questions made of five parts.
QUESTION:
(In Arabic) Ayman
Sultan, Al-Nadwa
newspaper. I would like to ask the Secretary of
State about the nature of the Saudi-American
relationship, and is it true that there is
tension between the two countries?
 SECRETARY
POWELL: No, and the cordiality of
conversations, both my conversation with the
Minister and the very extended conversation I
had with the Crown Prince, demonstrated to me
once again that the relationship is strong.
We're united in the war against terror. I
expressed my appreciation to the Foreign
Minister and the Crown Prince for all they have
been doing in the war against terror and we've
seen some real successes here recently in the
destruction of cells and in dealing with those
terrorists who are trying to take advantage of
Saudi Arabia's hospitality and some very
significant individuals were killed recently who
were bringing terror not only to Saudi Arabia
but to other parts of the region. So our
relationship is strong and we're able this
evening to talk about what we are doing in
Iraq
and I gave the Crown Prince and the Foreign
Minister a briefing on that. I briefed them on
my trip through
South Asia
and we talked about a number of bilateral issues
in the candid way that we always do. I think the
relationship is quite strong and will continue
to be so.
FOREIGN
MINISTER AL-FAISAL: And I confirm that.
Ladies first.
QUESTION:
Intesar Al-Yamani,
Saudi Gazette. Mr. Powell, what is your view on
the issue of reform in the
Middle East
, and in particular in the
Kingdom
of
Saudi Arabia
? And have you discussed this with the Crown
Prince, the issue of reforms?
SECRETARY
POWELL: We had a very long discussion on
reform in the
Middle East
. I discussed with the Foreign Minister, and
then in an extended session with the Crown
Prince, the President's vision: a forward
strategy for freedom, a forward strategy for
democracy and how we had ideas and we have
experience and we have means to help nations who
are interested in reform and committed to
reform. But essentially reform has to come from
within the region, it can't be imposed from
outside. And we talked about the reforms that
are taking place in
Saudi Arabia
. Municipal elections that are coming up.
Working on the legal systems and other things
that are taking place. Each nation has to find
its own path and follow that path at its own
rate of speed. But the
United States
, and I think many of the other nations of the
world, industrialized nations especially, stand
ready to help the nations in the region at the
pace at each nation decides it should move and
with any assistance it asks for. Not something
to be imposed, something to be partnered with
our friends on.
FOREIGN
MINISTER AL-FAISAL: In other words, these
reforms are not what the papers said they were
and the efforts of the
United States
are not what was
presented by the papers. We understood that, and
you are sitting in the wrong place, by the way.
(Laughter.)
QUESTION:
Mr. Secretary, what is your view of the arrests
of the roughly 10 reform-minded Saudis this
week? And are you aware of any evidence that
they were indeed involved in acts of sabotage,
as the Saudi government has said?
SECRETARY
POWELL: I had a conversation both with the
Foreign Minister and the Crown Prince on this
subject. I expressed our concerns over the
detentions. I don't think the number is that
high any longer: it's
fewer people, some have been released. And the
issue of sabotage was discussed. There were some
procedural and legal issues that the Saudis were
concerned with, with respect to these
individuals, and the Minister may wish to speak
to it, but, yes, it did come up and was
discussed rather thoroughly.
FOREIGN
MINISTER AL-FAISAL: Friends can discuss
anything, from our point of view what happened
was something that concerned this country and
for the benefit of this country. These people
sought dissention when the whole country was
looking for unity and a clear vision, especially
at a time when it is facing a terrorist threat.
This is not the time to seek dissention. They
did so by using also the names of respectable
and reputable people who objected. And were
adamantly decided on raising the issue and the
legal consequences to those who put their names
on the statements that they had no right to do
so.
So
these people were asked to come for questioning,
they were questioned, those who said .. who
promised that they would not use the names of
other people were immediately let go. The others
who refused that are going to return to the
legal courts to see what needs to be done about
it. But it is an internal issue and this is what
we told our friends, in essence.
QUESTION:
(In Arabic) My question is to Mr. Colin
Powell. His Royal Highness Prince Saud
Al-Faisal said that there are those who want to
separate us, and we heard that they also want to
tear apart our national unity. Does Mr. Powell
think that the statement of the official in the
Department of State supports their intention?
SECRETARY
POWELL: I'm not sure I could understand the
question.
FOREIGN
MINISTER AL-FAISAL: He said, these people
who are (inaudible) don't you think (inaudible)?
SECRETARY
POWELL: Well, as you know from statements
we've made in Washington, as well as what I've
discussed this evening with the Foreign
Minister, we have concerns when people who are
trying to express their views and do it in an
open way, and a democratic way, are unable to do
so. And we had a good candid open debate about
this issue. And you have heard the Foreign
Minister's response. And I accept the response.
I'm pleased that the number of detentions is
down and most have been released. And what
happens to those who remain we will see in the
days ahead. But we have expressed our opinion on
this one.
FOREIGN
MINISTER AL-FAISAL: Last question.
QUESTION:
Yes. Mr. Secretary, if the Arab League
adopts a resolution calling for reform in the
Middle East
, would that satisfy the interest of the
Administration for, as you said, reform coming
out of the region? And do you have any ideas of
what should be in that reform initiative?
SECRETARY
POWELL: It's not a matter of satisfying the United
States
, it's a matter of satisfying the aspirations of
the people in the Arab world. And so, I have
been in touch with a number of the Foreign
Ministers in the Arab world over what might be
in such a document. But they have been really
telling me what they think should be in such a
document. And I think if the Arab League could
come to some conclusion that everyone agrees to,
we would certainly respect that statement of
vision from the Arab League. But I couldn't say
anything further about it until I actually see
such a resolution.
But
I am encouraged, very encouraged, that the
League is taking up this issue and such
conversations are taking place. When our ideas
were first made known to the press, there was a
great deal of angst in the region and people
were wondering what are we all about, what are
we doing, what are we trying to impose. But as a
result of consultations and the visits of a
number of members of my staff, as well as
consultations in
Washington
, I think we've demonstrated to our friends in
the region that we are here to assist and work,
but the momentum, the incentive, really has to
come from within the region. It has caused a
great deal of debate, a lot of argument in the
press, and that's good. That's part of the
democratic process. But what's particularly
encouraging for me to see is that the League is
now taking it up as a formal matter to see if
they can get agreement on a resolution. I don't
know whether they can or cannot. But the fact
that it is being discussed within the Arab
League, I think is encouraging.
FOREIGN
MINISTER AL-FAISAL: Permit me to make a
comment, Mr. Secretary, on this. This country is
undergoing a process of reform that started some
time ago. It is doing it to please the people of
the country, to respond to the needs of the
country. It is not doing it to get a report of
good behavior or anything of that sort. Our
country needs reforms and they are needed for
serving the people of this country. This is the
only basis that we work as a government, to
serve the people of this country. And so the
reforms are indigenous, they are inclusive of
the needs of the people. The timing of their
implementation depends on what is possible and
what is achievable according to the ability and
the consensus that we can achieve for this
reform, so it becomes a uniting force for the
country and not a divisive aspect for the
country. We want to maintain the unity and the
cohesion of our society. Thank you very much.
SECRETARY
POWELL: Thank you.
[Source:
U.S. Department of State]
Related
SUSRIS Material:
- Saudi
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal
Comments on U.S.-Saudi Relations - January
25, 2004
- Secretary
Colin L. Powell comments on the U.S.-Saudi
relationship
- January 21, 2004
- HRH
Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Foreign Minister of
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at the
U.S.-Arab Economic Forum - September 30,
2003
- Saudi
Officials Take on Challenges in the
Media - Prince Saud Al-Faisal and Prince
Turki Al-Faisal Respond to Charges -
September 12, 2003
- Excerpt
From An Interview With Secretary of State
Colin Powell - Comments Regarding
Withholding Information in the 9/11 Joint
Inquiry Report - July 30, 2003
- Saudi
Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal,
Responds to 9/11 Report - July 29, 2003
Related
News Articles:
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Powell
Asserts Saudi Bond Despite Rift,
by Steven r. Weisman, New York Times,
Mar. 20, 2004
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held frank discussion on detentions; Powell:
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Powell
Tries to Reassure Kuwaitis and Saudis,
by Steven r. Weisman, New York Times,
Mar. 21, 2004
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by Javid Hassan and Abdulaziz Al-Hendi, ArabNews.com,
Mar. 20, 2004
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Meets Saudi Leaders on Democracy,
AtlantaJournalConstitution.com, Mar. 19,
2004
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Powell
to Discuss Regional Developments,
by M. Ghazanfar Ali Khan, ArabNews.com, Mar.
17, 2004
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