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Saudi-American
University in the Offing, Says Envoy
Dr. Khaled Batarfi, Arab News
JEDDAH,
12 March 2005 — Efforts are under way to
establish a Saudi-American university in Riyadh,
according to US Ambassador James C. Oberwetter.
“King
Faisal Foundation is now working with American
businessmen to establish the university where
courses will be provided in accordance with
Shariah,” he said.
In an
interview with Arab News, the ambassador said he
expected a large number of Saudi students to apply
for visas for higher studies in the US. “I
want to correct the wrong impression that there is
complication in visa procedures,” he said,
adding that the number of visas issued to Saudis
now is close to the levels prevalent before Sept.
11, 2001.
Oberwetter
said economic reforms enhanced the Kingdom’s
openness to the world. “Saudi Arabia’s efforts
to join the World Trade Organization have served
as a strong engine for its reform train and helped
achieve economic transparency,” he said. New
regulations introduced by the Kingdom will
encourage foreign investment and boost foreign
trade, he added.
“The US
strongly backs Saudi Arabia in its efforts to
become a member of WTO and we share the optimism
expressed by Saudis that the outstanding problems
could be solved soon,” said Oberwetter.
 The
US ambassador commended Saudi Arabia’s endeavors
to root out terrorism. “I am quite satisfied,
more than ever before, with the success achieved
by Saudi security forces in destroying terror
infrastructure. Their courageous and sincere
sacrifices have made every citizen and expatriate
feel safe,” he said and pledged US support to
the Kingdom’s campaign to combat terrorism.
Oberwetter
applauded the ongoing municipal elections and
national dialogue as major political reforms.
“The US and other countries have seen them as
positive developments. We have also followed up
the dialogue forums that discussed women’s
issues with the participation of women,” he
said, and hoped that the internal dialogue would
act as a fillip to democratic reforms in the
country.
 The
ambassador emphasized the significance of
professional, charitable, educational and
women’s organizations in strengthening the
relation between the state and individuals and
boosting economic, educational and social
activities. He praised the Jeddah Chamber of
Commerce and Industry for hosting the
Saudi-American dialogue forum last week with the
participation of academics and other prominent
personalities from both sides.
He
noticed considerable progress in the Kingdom’s
efforts to provide good education to its citizens
and provide them with jobs at a time when a large
number of young Saudi graduates are ready to enter
the job market. The ambassador estimated the
Kingdom’s unemployment rate at 26 percent based
on private studies. He said the Manpower
Development Fund was instrumental in accelerating
the Saudization drive.
 Oberwetter
also commended Saudi Arabia’s openness toward
foreign journalists. “These days we see a lot of
American journalists coming to the Kingdom and
spending their time visiting various parts of the
country and chatting with its people to write good
reports,” he said and commended foreign
journalists for their objective reporting.
“Despite
the terrorist attacks in Riyadh, Alkhobar and
Jeddah, American and other foreign journalists
have succeeded in putting things in the right
perspective, writing about their positive
experiences here and giving a good picture of
Saudi culture and traditions to their readers,”
he explained.
Oberwetter,
who was a student of journalism at the University
of Texas and had worked as a public relations
officer at Hunt Oil Company, stressed the
importance of openness to media, saying “it’s
an essential part of modern political, economic
and social life.”
He
commended the openness and the spirit of free and
constructive dialogue in the Saudi press. “I
have been keenly following up the press coverage
of municipal elections and other local issues that
affect Saudi people as well as the discussions on
social issues in the press and on the Internet. I
was also following up with interest the media
campaigns for elections,” he said.
Speaking
on President George W. Bush’s Middle East
initiative, he said it would promote an atmosphere
of freedom in the Arab world. The administration
has so far allocated $293 million for
strengthening democracy and civil society,
boosting economy, creating jobs, promoting
education and enhancing women’s role in society.
He agreed that reform movements must be led by
people not imposed from outside through foreign
intervention.
Oberwetter
emphasized Saudi Arabia’s religious and
political position in the Islamic world. “Thanks
to this position coupled with the huge natural
resources it has, Riyadh plays a leading role in
world affairs. The United States understood this
pivotal role of the Kingdom about 60 years ago and
has tried to reinforce its relations with Saudi
Arabia at political, economic, cultural and social
levels,” he added.
Reprinted with
permission of Arab
News.
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