Saudi-US Relations Information Service

"..The accession, approved in principle by the WTO last month, brings to a close 12 years of tough and complex negotiations.. ..Membership will bring no overnight changes. The Kingdom, one of the last major economies outside the WTO, has been changing its commercial and economic laws over the past few years to comply with the WTO’s rules.. ..Expectations are that WTO accession will boost foreign investment in the Kingdom, providing funds for diversification of the largely oil-based economy, and bring new export opportunities for Saudi firms, especially in the petrochemical industry.." [more]

"..Let me begin my testimony with an important caveat. Saudi Arabia is no more perfect than any other country. Like us, Saudi Arabia has made many mistakes in dealing with terrorism, in foreign policy, and managing its domestic affairs. There are many areas where leading Saudis recognize that Saudi Arabia needs major reforms, and these include education and ensuring that clerics recognize their responsibility to preach tolerance, the value of other faiths and branches of Islam, and the dangers of violence and terrorism. I have spoken and written about these needs for reform on many occasions over many years -- as, for that matter -- have many Saudis.." [more]

Prince Turki al Faisal during a television interview in December 2004.

"..Terrorism is not the exclusive domain of one people. It does not belong to one time or to one place. The challenge posed by Al-Qaeda is that unlike other terrorist organizations, it has no one declared enemy, and no one focus. Al-Qaeda has pitted itself against the whole of humanity.. ..Extremism is the mantra of a few, of a tiny group whose minds have been twisted and turned to serve an evil agenda. They have left logic, reason and compassion behind. They do not belong to any nationality or any faith. They have disconnected themselves from nations and peoples, from any true faith, and from humanity as a whole.." [more]

The inaugural session of the US-Saudi Arabia Strategic Dialogue was held November 13, 2005 in Saudi Arabia between delegations led by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al Faisal. The dialogue, a product of the summit between President George Bush and King, then Crown Prince, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, at the Western White House, Crawford, Texas in April 2005, provided an opportunity for high level review of strategic issues of vital importance to the two countries. The first session of the dialogue was summarized during a press availability which we provided to you as a SUSRIS Item of Interest (click here for more).

Applications are now available to participate in a fully-funded ten-day study tour of Saudi Arabia. Sponsored by Aramco Services Company, this professional development opportunity is open to full-time social studies teachers and library media specialists in grades 1-12.

Interested individuals can download an application at: http://www.iie.org/programs/aramco . The application deadline is November 28, 2005.

The Aramco Educators to Saudi Arabia Program will examine Saudi education, culture, history and global relations through site visits, panel discussions and cultural activities in the cities of Dhahran, Riyadh and Jeddah from February 14 - 28, 2006.

Aramco Educators to Saudi Arabia Program
Institute of International Education
1400 K St., NW, Suite 650
Washington, DC 20005

Phone:1-800-671-0130
Email: [email protected]
Visit the website at http://www.iie.org/programs/aramco

U.S., Saudi Arabia Inaugurate New 'Strategic Dialogue' [Nov 13]
"With skepticism still deep on both sides four years after the Sept. 11 attacks, the United States and Saudi Arabia on Sunday inaugurated a new "strategic dialogue" to expand cooperation on six key issues, including terrorism and energy.. ..The Bush administration has been under pressure from both Republicans and Democrats to win greater cooperation from the oil-rich kingdom.."

Sultan Calls for Strengthening GCC Forces [Nov 13]
"Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, yesterday inspected the Peninsula Shield force stationed in Hafr Al-Batin and called for strengthening armed forces in the GCC countries. 'We are looking for progress in everything that would lead to the unity of ranks and improving standards of armed forces in the Gulf countries in general'.."

Kingdom Bans Import of All Birds [Nov 13]
"A royal decree has been issued banning the import into the Kingdom of all kinds of birds. The decree is part of the efforts to prevent an outbreak of bird flu in the Kingdom.. ..The Saudi moves came after reports that a bird in Kuwait was infected by the deadly H5N1 strain, the first confirmed case in the Gulf.."

Saudi Arabia Has Won Key Concessions From WTO [Nov 13]
"Saudi Arabia, which was officially admitted to the World Trade Organization on Friday, has won substantial concessions from WTO members.. ..Many Saudis, however, want to know more about the terms and conditions of the WTO agreement. Economist Muhammad Al-Qahtani asked the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to give a clear idea of the agreement, saying that most Saudis are ignorant of it.."

Forum Focuses on New Water, Power Technologies [Nov 13]
"The first conference in Saudi Arabia on water issues was highlighted on its first day with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between a British and a Saudi company worth $50 million on its initial stage for a sewage and water treatment project in Jeddah.."

Saudi Arabia May Sell Desalination Plants to Meet Water Demand [Nov 13]
"Saudi Arabia, the world's largest desalinated water producer, may sell off its treatment plants to help
generate the $53 billion it estimates is needed to meet the nation's increasing demand for water by 2020.. ..The kingdom's demand for water is forecast to triple in the next 15 years.."

Rice arrives in Saudi Arabia [Nov 12]
"US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, accompanied by a delegation of officials, arrived in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah on Saturday.. ..Rice is due to head the US delegation at scheduled meetings of the Saudi-US commission.."

Kingdom Wins WTO Membership [Nov 12]
"The World Trade Organization yesterday approved Saudi Arabia’s bid to become the 149th member of the global group after its Executive General Council endorsed that the Kingdom had met its conditions. The trade body’s executive rubber-stamped the Kingdom’s entry after 12 years of tough, on-off negotiations.."

Riyadh Set to Host Avian Flu Conference [Nov 12]
"The Kingdom’s capital city will host an international bird flu conference on Nov. 21-22 at the direction of
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.. ..more than 300 doctors and specialists will attend the conference, which will be held in association with the ministries of health, agriculture and Haj.."

Saudi Stock Index Breaks 16,000-Point Barrier [Nov 12]
"The Saudi stock index broke the 16,000-point barrier as the Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) closed on Thursday at an all-time high of 16,077.38.. ..The index gained over 1,000 points in 6 trading days .."

WTO Approves Saudi Arabia's Bid [Nov 11]
"The World Trade Organization on Friday approved Saudi Arabia's bid to become the 149th member of the global body, winding up a twelve year negotiation process slowed by the country's participation in the Arab Leagues boycott of Israel.."

Saudi Arabia’s Oil Expansion Plan May Face Delay [Nov 11]
"Saudi Arabia may fall behind its schedule to raise output capacity by 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2009 due to shortages of oil rigs and equipment.. ..the kingdom has the oil in the ground, political will and cash to ramp up output. But a shortage of equipment could leave state oil firm Aramco two-to-three years behind its plan to lift capacity to 12.5 million from 11 million bpd now.."

Embassy Row: Saudi Arabia and US [Nov 11]
"The Saudi ambassador is defending his country against charges in a Senate hearing this week where witnesses denounced the kingdom for links to terrorism and for an official form of Islam that they said spreads hatred toward Americans and moderate Muslims.."

Saudi National Security Council: Current Role and Future Prospects [Nov 11]
"King Abdullah’s decision to reorganize the Saudi National Security Council represents a fresh and sound step toward upgrading the political and security decision-making mechanisms in the country. It is a step taken in the context of the restructuring and developing of state institutions in accordance with and response to the dramatic changes taking place within the Kingdom’s domestic, regional and international environments.."

Flu Fears Hit Chicken Sales [Nov 11]
"Fears of bird flu outbreak have hit chicken sales in Riyadh. All poultry retail shops, mainly manned by
Bangladeshi, Asian or Arab expatriates, are experiencing a sharp decline in sales.. ..At the regional level, poultry production was growing consistently until last month, when the bird flu scare started to tell on the growth.."

Prince Turki Says U.S. Remarks False [Nov 11]
"Reacting to negative statements released by members of the US Senate at the hearing held Tuesday to discuss Saudi Arabia s cooperation in fighting terrorism and extremism, Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi Ambassador to the US, said that these statements promote false impressions and partial facts.. ..Prince Turki also said that terrorists are opposed to the Kingdom and to the Saudi people because we strive to push our country forward.."

Rice Heads for Mideast Today, to Visit Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Israel [Nov 10]
"During a whirlwind of diplomatic activity in the Middle East this weekend, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will continue pushing a U.S. agenda of regional economic and democratic reform during meetings in Bahrain, engage Saudi officials on key bilateral issues in the Kingdom, then try to jump-start the "road map" toward Palestinian-Israeli peace.."

Investments to Look Up After Formal WTO Accession [Nov 10]
"..Membership will bring no overnight changes. The Kingdom, one of the last major economies outside the WTO, has been changing its commercial and economic laws over the past few years to comply with the WTO’s rules. Where it has been noticeable and where it has had the greatest effect so far is in the distribution, telecommunication, banking and insurance sectors.."

Saudi Stock Index Flirts With 16,000 Points [Nov 10]
"Saudi stocks continued to record new highs as the World Trade Organization’s general council is all set to give its final approval to Saudi Arabia’s accession to the WTO as its 149th member in Geneva tomorrow.. ..The Tadawul All Share Index (TASI), after briefly crossing the 16,000 barrier, closed yesterday at a record high of 15,999.99.."

1,500 to Participate in Riyadh Forum [Nov 10]
"More than 1,500 economists will participate in the 2nd Riyadh Economic Forum on Dec. 4.. ..This is an increase of 30 percent over last year’s forum.."

Turki Calls for Global Effort to Fight Terror [Nov 9]
"The newly appointed Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Turki Al-Faisal, yesterday called for increased international cooperation to combat extremism.. ..The ambassador called terrorism the biggest single threat to international peace and stability.."

State Department Says Saudi Arabia Denies Freedom of Religion to Non-Muslims [Nov 9]
"A State Department report has slammed Saudi Arabia for denying religious freedom to non-Muslims.. ..The citation could cause friction between Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Saudi hosts when she visits the country this week. In September, she gave the country's rulers 180 days to show progress in the treatment of religious minorities, or else face sanctions.."

Saudi Arabia: 1.2 Trillion Barrels of Oil ... or More [Nov 9]
"..Translated into simple terms, Edgell is telling us to forget about dinosaurs – Saudi Arabia has abundant oil because the fault pattern under Saudi Arabia permits the abundant oil from the Earth's mantle to flow upward.. ..Maybe the secretive Saudi's are telling the truth when they say their oil reserves are dramatically underestimated.."

Wanted Terrorist Repatriated [Nov 9]
"Saudi Arabia has secured the repatriation of a man who is on the Kingdom’s list of 36 most-wanted terrorists.. ..The spokesman did not specify from which country Al-Amri, 28, was repatriated, nor did he provide any details about the man’s extradition.."

Saudi Stock Index Hits Another Record High [Nov 9]
"The Saudi stock market continued its relentless surge and hit another record high when trading began yesterday after a week-long holiday for Eid Al-Fitr. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) seemed to head for another milestone of 16,000 as it closed yesterday at an all-time high of 15,848.94, up 232.29 points or 1.49 percent from Oct. 31 closing.."

JCCI to Host Anti-Dumping Workshop [Nov 9]
"The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) in cooperation with the general secretariat of GCC’s united chambers and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is hosting a workshop on anti-dumping within the framework of the World Trade Organization. The workshop will take place on Nov. 19 and 20 at the JCCI Businessmen’s Club.."

SR7 Billion Income From Umrah [Nov 9]
"A recent study conducted by the Ministry of Haj revealed that the income from Umrah this year is estimated at SR7 billion.. ..The same study expected that the income will increase to SR18 billion in ten years with the implementation of the current Umrah system.."

Greek Trade Officials to Visit Saudi Arabia [Nov 9]
"After a gap of 11 years, a 32-member Greek trade delegation is visiting Saudi Arabia from Nov. 17-24. The Saudi Chambers of Commerce & Industry is coordinating its visit together with the Greek Embassy in Riyadh.."

Pakistan, Kingdom to Cooperate Against Terror [Nov 9]
"Saudi Deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmad and his high-powered delegation yesterday met with Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao.. ..Saudi Arabia and Pakistan agreed to combat terrorism besides evolving coordinated efforts to counter terrorism. Both the delegations met at the Interior Ministry for more than one hour.."

Ministry Denies Bird Flu Outbreak [Nov 9]
"Ministry of Agriculture yesterday ruled out a possible bird flu outbreak in the southern part of the Kingdom.. ..The deputy minister said the birds might have died of Newcastle fever, a viral disease which affects birds.."

Air Force to Get Modern Aircraft, Says Sultan [Nov 8]
"Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, has announced plans to strengthen the Kingdom’s air force and for it to become No. 1 in the Middle East.. ..Last month, a Saudi Defense Ministry spokesman confirmed that Britain had expressed a desire to sell Typhoon fighter planes to the Kingdom.."

Jordanian Company to Open Saudi Office [Nov 8]
"The executive manager of Tashjee Investment Institution, Maan Al-Nusoor, said that the institution would soon open a branch in Saudi Arabia. The main job of the new branch will be to provide information and facilitate Saudi investment in Jordan.."

Eastern Province Gold Sales Reach SR20m [Nov 8]
"Industry statistics indicate that Eastern Province sales of gold during Ramadan and Eid were SR20 million. Sales of gold began to increase from the middle of the month before Ramadan.."

Riyadh to Host Energy Forum [Nov 8]
"Riyadh will host an international energy forum next month.. ..King Abdullah will attend the opening ceremony along with more than 20 oil ministers from both oil producing and consuming countries.."

State Department Set to Cite Saudi Arabia [Nov 8]
"The State Department, in a report being released Tuesday, cites Saudi Arabia and seven other countries as restricting religious freedom. The report was being issued as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice prepares to travel to Saudi Arabia at the end of the week as part of a trip to the Middle East, and could be an irritant in her talks with Saudi officials.."

U.N. Chief to Visit Kingdom [Nov 8]
"UN chief Kofi Annan and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit the Kingdom on separate missions. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will arrive in Riyadh Wednesday to hold talks with King Abdullah.. ..Annan is scheduled to hold talks with King Abdullah and other senior Saudi officials on issues that include Middle East Peace Process, stability in Iraq and other regional matters during his two-day stay in Riyadh.."

New Real Estate Deal in Saudi Arabia [Nov 7]
"A-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper has recently reported about the signing of an agreement between the British Bovis Lend Lease and the British Foster and Partners Urban Planning Company to carry out a real estate contract in Saudi Arabia valued at $13 billion.."

Poultry Found Dead in Saudi Arabia Sent for Tests [Nov 7]
"Veterinary authorities in Saudi Arabia were carrying out tests to determine whether poultry found dead in the kingdom were infected with the bird flu virus, the Al-Riyadh newspaper reported, quoting Saeed bin Misfir Al-Kahtani, director of the agriculture ministry office in Sarat Abida. He said samples from the poultry at a farm in southwestern Saudi Arabia have been sent to the laboratory for tests.."

Saudi Banks Invest in Gulf Markets [Nov 7]
"Saudi commercial banks have started channeling part of their investments to Gulf markets to make use of the growing stock and financial markets and real estate business projects in GCC countries.Some Saudi banks have offered a variety of investment projects to their Gulf clients. They include joint investment funds for stocks to be managed by international financial organizations specialized in Gulf markets.."

Sultan Center to Become Gateway of Science & Technology [Nov 7]
"Crown Prince Sultan will open a state-of-the-art science and technology center in Alkhobar tomorrow, according to Dr. Majed Al-Qasabi.. ..Qasabi described the Prince Sultan ibn Abdul Aziz Science and Technology Center, established at a cost of SR230 million, as a gateway of science and technology on the Kingdom’s eastern coast.."

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.
< Read More About SUSRIS >