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| "Karen of Arabia: I, Mom Meets the Imams"
by Jonathan Karl |
|
 "My
most important job is mom," she said in an interview with NBC
News. 'I still have to pinch myself a little when I am sitting in
a meeting with the king [of Saudi Arabia] and realize that I'm
there representing our country.'" [more]
| King
Abdullah Interview - ABC News |
|
 "..the
message is that the American people have been our friend for over
60 years. There was no conflict or problem or doubt that existed
between us until the tragic events of a few years ago in New York
City, which were perpetrated by a small and deviant group of
individuals who have no respect for humanity or for the teachings
of their faith. I also want to convey my greetings to President
Bush and to all Americans, young and old.."
[more]
| Richard
Haass Comments on King Abdullah Interview |
|
 "..He
has something of a reputation as a reformer. He's an intriguing
man. We couldn't do better right now than Abdullah if we had to
choose who would run Saudi Arabia. The real question again is
time. How hard he is willing to press it. Whether on the issues
you've raised, like women, on democratic reforms more generally,
on doing something about the quality of Saudi society which really
isn't part of the modern world. One has to hope, though, that he
does have the time, because it is very difficult to see one of the
alternatives doing better.." [more]
| Flashback
- King Abdullah GulfWire Interview (Feb 2001) |
|
 "..One
of the first things I would like to tell you is that I support
whatever is in U.S. interests. That is because whatever is in the
interest of the U.S. is also in the interest of Saudi Arabia..
..America has interests and they have suffered. America's friends
have stood up and defended it but it has become harder to stand up
and defend America.." [more]
Last
week we announced
the debut of a new look, feel and navigation for the SUSRIS
web site, what we refer to as "SUSRIS 2.0" -- the
second generation of the project. You have also seen a new
look in the articles and newsletters we send you. We hope
the changes serve to make SUSRIS a more useful resource for
you to learn about the history and scope of US-Saudi relations and
to keep up with new development.
We will
use this newsletter to familiarize you with features available on
the web site and hope you will take time to tell us how we can
make improvements to both the web site and the e-newsletters and
articles. In addition to your feedback we'd like to invite
you to visit the discussion
forum and signup as a participant so you can post your
comments.
SUSRIS 2.0
User's Guide -- "Email to a Friend" and "Printer
Friendly Formats"
The
on-line versions of SUSRIS items of interest, interviews,
news in depth items and special reports will have a link to a
separate HTML file that has been prepared in a printer friendly
template. Where you see the printer icon (below) you can
open that version of the item you want to print. Alongside
the printer icon you'll see an envelope icon. That link
(below) will open your email client to send your friends and
colleagues a predefined email with a recommendation to visit the
item that interested you. Let us know if these
features are meeting your needs.
Email to a Friend
|
Printer Friendly Format
|
|
|
Over
10,000 Saudi Students US- Bound [Oct 23]
"More than 10,000 Saudi students will travel to the US to
attend university as part of a government-sponsored program
following the adoption of new measures by the Ministry of Higher
Education aimed at facilitating travel procedures for Saudis. In
total, 21,000 Saudis are expected to take part in the program in
the next four years.." [more]
Saudi
Arabia's Oil Export Income to Touch $163 Billion [Oct 23]
"The booming Saudi economy is at its best performing period
ever with oil export revenues hitting 22-year highs and the real
gross domestic product (GDP), as a result of the higher oil
production than in 2004, growing at a phenomenal 6.8 percent. A
new climate of hope about the pace of economic reforms and several
developments that have occurred early in Custodian of Two Holy
Mosques King Abdullah's reign indicate that the growth will be
optimal in this boom cycle. It will also enable the country to
strengthen its fiscal position as revenues continue to be
robust.." [more]
Saudi
Arabia Evolves into a Global Petrochemical Hub [Oct 23]
"Capital investment in hydrocarbon sub-sectors in the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia is slated to reach $94.4 billion in the years
2004-2009 according to Dr. Abdulwahab Al Sadoun, the Director
General of the Energy Sector at the Saudi Arabian General
Investment Authority (SAGIA). Dr. Al Sadoun illustrated Saudi
Arabia’s emerging strength as a global hub for petrochemicals at
the ISF Petrochemicals Forum held recently in London.. ..Saudi
Arabia’s petrochemicals industry continues to grow at a
consistent and exponential pace accounting for 7% of the global
supply for basic and intermediary petrochemical products.." [more]
Book
Sheds Light on Flaws in Education System [Oct 23]
"A Saudi woman professor at King Saud University has written
a book entitled 'My School Is a Locked Box.' The book discusses at
length the many flaws in the educational system and is available
in Arabic in local bookstores. The author, Dr. Fawziah Al-Bakr,
who received her education at the University of London, said that
she wrote the book in order to show 'how schools frame the way we
look at things'.." [more]
King Opens Quake Fund-Raising With SR10m Donation [Oct 23]
"Saudi Arabia [Oct 23] launched a major drive to collect
donations for earthquake victims in Pakistan, with Custodian of
the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah giving SR10 million to the
fund.. ..Crown Prince Sultan contributed SR5 million while
Interior Minister Prince Naif gave SR3 million.." [more]
Saudi
Stocks Decline After Poor 9-Month Results [Oct 22]
"The Saudi stock market moved up and down last week
reflecting the third quarter results of leading firms such as the
Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) and the Saudi Electricity Co.
(SEC), which reported less-than-expected profits in the first
three quarters of the year.." [more]
Prince
Moqrin Head of Saudi Intelligence [Oct 22]
"Saudi King Abdullah has appointed his half-brother Prince
Moqrin Bin Abdul Aziz as intelligence chief replacing Prince Nawaf
who resigned nine months ago.. ..Moqrin, 72, the governor of the
province of Medina, is a certified military pilot.." [more]
Responsibilities
of Saudi Rights Commission Defined [Oct 21]
"The Saudi government [Oct 20] defined the duties and
responsibilities of the Human Rights Commission.. ..the most
important duties of the non-elected commission "are to ensure
the strict implementation of rules pertaining to human rights by
all concerned government departments, detect violations and take
corrective measures.." [more]
Saudi
TV, Al-Arabiya Plan Telethon for Quake Victims [Oct 21]
"Al-Arabiya satellite news channel said [Oct 20] it would
stage a joint telethon with Saudi Television tomorrow to raise
funds for victims of the massive earthquake in Pakistan. Saudi TV
in Riyadh will air reports by Al-Arabiya correspondents in the
affected areas “in an effort to mobilize relief aid and raise
donations to alleviate the human suffering” caused by the
earthquake, said Al-Arabiya, which is based in Dubai.." [more]
Saudi
Arabia Rejects Accusations of Prisoner Torture [Oct 21]
"The following statement was issued today by Saudi Ambassador
to the United States Prince Turki Al-Faisal: "The government
of Saudi Arabia rejects assertions that while in custody Ahmed Abu
Ali was tortured in any way. While detained, Mr. Abu Ali was
visited on a regular basis by United States officials who found no
evidence of either physical or mental abuse.." [more]
Abdullah
Urges Industrialized Countries to Cut Oil Taxes [Oct 20]
"While reiterating Riyadh’s support to stabilize the world
oil market, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah urged
industrialized countries to play their part by either lifting or
reducing taxes on oil products.. ..the king had emphasized that
Saudi Arabia would continue its efforts to stabilize the oil
market and that de Rato had commended Saudi oil policies.
Maintaining taxes at the current levels would impact on the future
investment in oil producing countries and on the petroleum market
in general.." [more]
Riyadh,
Jubail Shortlisted for Top Honor [Oct 20]
"Riyadh and Jubail Industrial City have been shortlisted as
two of the world’s top three leadership cities by the World
Leadership Forum (WLF).. ..The WLF had earlier asked leaders in
400 of the world’s largest cities to submit synopsis of their
most successful projects. These projects covered a wide range of
activities spanning the environment, urban renewal, housing,
health, town planning, architecture, civil engineering, education,
and development of the young, the economy, and employment.."
[more]
Anonymous Saudi Donates Millions [Oct 19]
"To help accommodate the hurricane evacuees in the Fort Bend
Independent School District, an anonymous donor from Saudi Arabia
has given one-point-two-five (m) million dollars worth of portable
classroom buildings and educational supplies.. ..The portable
buildings cost about $92,000 each. It was unclear how many
portables were donated, but six will be set up at elementary
schools and the remainder at secondary schools.." [more]
Shoura
Endorses WTO Accession [Oct 19]
"The 150-member Shoura Council yesterday approved Saudi
Arabia’s accession to the World Trade Organization, ahead of a
key WTO meeting in Geneva later this month which is expected to
admit Riyadh to the body.. ..The minister said the negative
effects of WTO were not restricted to Saudi Arabia but encompassed
all member countries. Yamani expressed his confidence that Saudi
Arabia would be able to attend the WTO ministerial meeting in Hong
Kong in December after becoming a full member of the
organization.." [more]
NCB
Launches $700 Million Bond [Oct 19]
"The National Commercial Bank (NCB) launched a $700 million
5-year bond after an extensive road show in Asia and Europe by a
senior NCB team. This was the first drawdown off of the bank’s
recently established $1.5 billion euro medium term note (EMTN)
program. This is the largest issuance by a Saudi bank into the
international capital markets.." [more]
New
Regions Planned: Naif [Oct 18]
"Saudi Arabia intends to increase the number of its regions
to improve services to its growing population, Interior Minister
Prince Naif announced.. ..Prince Naif did not give further details
of the new regions, but a previous report carried by Arab News
said the plan was to establish five more regions bringing the
total to 18.." [more]
Bandar Heads New National Security Body [Oct 17]
"Saudi Arabia [Oct 16] announced the creation of a National
Security Council headed by former ambassador to the United States,
Prince Bandar ibn Sultan. King Abdullah issued a decree approving
the bylaws of the National Security Council, and in a separate
decree named Prince Bandar its secretary general with the rank of
a minister.." [more]
Security Body to Draw Out Domestic, Foreign Policies [Oct 17]
"The newly upgraded National Security Council (NSC), which
will be chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King
Abdullah, will set out and implement the Kingdom’s domestic and
foreign policies.. ..By upgrading the NSC and bringing it under
his direct supervision, King Abdullah wants to strengthen the
council in order to enable it to play a more effective role in
preserving national security. He issued a royal decree on Sunday
approving the council’s rules and regulations.." [more]
| About
the Saudi-US
Relations Information Service |
|
The SUSRIS
project -- an independent, private-sector information resource –
offers objective, comprehensive news and information on the
history, breadth and depth of the US-Saudi Arabia relationship.
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