Saudi-US Relations Information Service

".. Fifteen years after winning the Cold War, America’s leadership role in the world today, in my view, is in serious jeopardy. If we look around the world, in different parts of that world, regions are beginning to think increasingly of their own collective self-interest while quietly detaching themselves from their close connection – in some cases, organic connection – with the United States.. ..After the terrorist attack – and I emphasize, a criminal terrorist attack – on the United States, instead of isolating our enemies our policies have tended to generate support for them, particularly because of the enlargement of the sphere of conflict by our own decisions.." [more]

KISSIMMEE -- A group of Saudi Arabian and American professional women met for lunch late last week at the Gaylord Palms Resort -- in their own way working to improve relations between the two countries. The group was hosted by the goodwill organization Friends of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi-owned Xentury City Development Co., which owns the Gaylord Palms property. The nonprofit FSA was formed this year with U.S.-Saudi relations still strained from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.."

Saudi Arabia's NAS launches Airbus' Corporate A318 [Nov 20]
"Saudi Arabian executive transport specialist National Air Services has become the first customer in the Middle East to order the new corporate version of the Airbus A318, with a commitment for up to 10 aircraft. National Air Services, which is based in Jeddah, is to acquire five A318 Elite twinjets and has placed options for another five. Delivery of the aircraft is set to begin in the fourth quarter of 2006.."

Terrorism Will Be Put to an End Within Two Years: Crown Prince [Nov 20]
"Saudi Arabia, which has been fighting a wave of violence blamed on Al-Qaeda militants, could put an end to terrorism within two years, said Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation.. ..The crown prince however admitted that it would be difficult to get rid of terrorism completely. 'No one in the world can prevent deviants'.."

Cut Energy Taxes, Says Abdullah [Nov 20]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday called upon oil consuming nations to cut energy taxes to bring down soaring prices. He said Saudi Arabia would continue its efforts to stabilize world oil market by ensuring adequate supplies.. ..The king also launched the new oil database, prepared by the Joint Oil Data Initiative (JODI), during the ceremony attended by oil ministers of several producing and consuming countries.."

Greek Delegation Seeks Saudi Investment [Nov 20]
" Greek business delegation on a five-day visit to the Kingdom was at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) yesterday promoting investment opportunities in Greece and urging increased cooperation between the two countries. Among their top requests for improving relations is for Saudi Arabian Airlines to reactivate its route to Greece and they hope that Olympic Airlines would do the same.."

Saudi Stock Index Dips [Nov 20]
"The Saudi stock market began the new week with a slight fall yesterday. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) closed at 16,056.11, down 38.64 points from Thursday’s closing as major Industrial, Banking and Telecom indices declined.."

In the Eye of Security [Nov 20]
"Safety concerns in Saudi Arabia are fueling a rapid expansion in the security market. Biometric technology, including iris scan and fingerprint recognition, is being adopted by Saudi border control and public sector organizations. Some Saudi firms are also planning to introduce this technology for increased security at office buildings.."

No Bird Flu [Nov 20]
"The new assurance came from the Ministry of Agriculture here Saturday in the wake of the deaths of birds in Madina and Najran. The Directorate General of Agriculture in Madina Region had sent eight blood and liver samples from birds that died in one of the villages to the Main Laboratory in the Ministry of Agriculture in Riyadh Thursday. We have got the results from Riyadh and they are negative.."

Saudi Arabia Asks for "Road Map" of World Oil Demand [Nov 20]
"Oil giant Saudi Arabia asked consuming nations for a "road map" of future oil demand on Saturday in response to repeated calls for Riyadh to ramp up its production capacity and curb record prices.. ..Oil minister Ali al-Naimi.. ..said. 'As producers we do not want to build the facilities which will not be met by demand'.."

Bodman Blames Lack of Refining Capacity for Instability in Oil Market [Nov 19]
"US Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman said yesterday that the absence of refining capacity in the United States “which has been largely caused by hurricanes” has been a cause of instability in the oil market, making prices both go up and down.. ..Commenting on the current or future cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia in building new oil refineries, Bodman said a number of countries have expressed interest in investing in the US, either in new refineries or expanding
existing ones.."

Women Candidates Call for JCCI Quota [Nov 19]
"..Last week, 11 businesswomen out of the 17 running in the election, held a meeting.. ..The meeting called for a quota system to guarantee the presence of women on the board. JCCI Chairman Dr. Ghassan Al-Sulaiman has ruled out reservation of seats for businesswomen. He said in remarks sometime ago that women would be allowed to fight on equal terms with men for the 12 seats open for election.."

Helicopter Surveillance to Check Border Infiltration [Nov 19]
"Saudi Arabia is planning to institute helicopter mounted border controls along the country’s frontier with Iraq. They will help check infiltration by illegal immigrants and the smuggling of arms and narcotics along the 830-kilometer border.."

Experts to Debate Impact of Taxes on Energy Prices [Nov 19]
"The negative impact of oil tax on end-users in consuming countries will be the focus of a major seminar to be opened in Riyadh today, said Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Al-Naimi.. ..King Abdullah last month urged industrialized countries to play their part in stabilizing world oil market by either lifting or reducing taxes on oil products.."

Unity Efforts to Continue, Says Sultan [Nov 19]
"Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, held talks with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa.. ..The crown prince, who is on an official visit to Egypt, emphasized that the unity of Iraqi people was essential for the success of the political process and ensuring the war-torn country’s sovereignty.."

Mitsubishi Reports 20% Growth in Saudi Market [Nov 18]
"Leading vehicle-manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors pledged to further consolidate its presence in Saudi Arabia, stating that its decision was based on an unprecedented 20 percent market growth in the Kingdom, over the corresponding period last year. Strong demand was especially witnessed in the passenger cars, truck and bus segments, where the company continues to be a market leader.."

Fatwa Monopoly in Saudi Arabia Must End, say Intellectuals [Nov 18]
"Saudi intellectuals have called for an end to the monopoly of Islamic propagation and held the religious curricula responsible for the struggle and hatred against the 'others'.. ..The intellectuals, in their recommendations, called for openness towards the cultures of other societies and to maintain relations based on reciprocal trust.."

Perle Hits Out at U.S.-Saudi Alliance [Nov 18]
"Former Department of Defense adviser Richard Perle criticized Thursday the U.S. government's continued friendship with Saudi Arabia. He said the friendship was the result of an intelligence failure worse than that concerning the Sept. 11 attacks. Perle claimed the Saudi Arabian government was no ally of the United States and had allowed terrorism to flourish within its borders.."

Oil Company Petrobras Seeks Partnerships with Saudi Aramco [Nov 18]
"Brazilian oil giant Petrobras is interested in establishing partnerships with Saudi Arabian state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco, the largest in the world. With the objective of closely observing the Arab company's operations, the president of the Brazilian company, Sérgio Gabrielli, is going to visit Saudi Arabia between the 19th and 21st of this month.."

Chairman of French Olympic Committee arrives in Riyadh [Nov 18]
"..Chairman of French Olympic Committee Henry Sir Andor arrived in Riyadh tonight for a several day visit.. ..Prince Sultan and Sir Andor will co-chair a joint meeting of the Saudi and French Olympic committees in Riyadh tomorrow to discuss aspects of joint cooperating between the two committees and ways of enhancing them.."

India Oils its Saudi Arabia Ties [Nov 18]
"It has taken a half century for a Saudi monarch to visit India but the main guest for the country's Republic Day celebrations on January 26 will be King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.. ..A foreign head of state or government being invited to be chief guest at the Republic Day parade in the heart of India's capital that showcases India's military might as well as democratic traditions, is considered a measure of the importance India attaches to its relationship with a country.."

Kingdom to Sponsor London Anti-Terror Meet [Nov 17]
"Saudi Arabia will sponsor a major international counterterrorism conference to be hosted by the London-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) on Jan. 16 and 17.. ..The conference will also address the geopolitical dimensions of terrorism not only at Middle Eastern level but also at European, American and African levels.."

Saudi Arabia Offers $1 Billion for the Reconstruction of Iraq [Nov 17]
"Saud Al Faisal, Saudi foreign affairs minister, promised to offer 1 billion US dollars for the reconstruction of Iraq.. ..The Saudi minister said that his worries regarding the eruption of a civil war in Iraq due to the American presence has gradually shrinked. It is worth mentioning that Saudi Arabia has expressed its worries with regard to the sectarian disputes in Iraq, especially with the presence of the American forces there, which pushes the country towards a civil war.."

Businesswomen’s Forum Set [Nov 17]
"The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry is embracing the second annual Gulf businesswomen conference for the first time in Jeddah in an effort to provide more support to Saudi and Gulf businesswomen. The Second Annual Gulf Businesswomen's Committee Forum will be held in Jeddah on April 4 6 as a meeting point for targeted Gulf nationals that include businesswomen and young female entrepreneurs.."

Oil Has Harmed’ Mideast [Nov 17]
"Oil has done more harm than good to the Middle East, a majority of participants at the latest Doha Debates series felt.. ..Saudi national security consultant and the managing director of the Saudi National Security Assessment Project, Nawaf Obaid, believed that oil was a blessing as 'it eradicated poverty'. He said that oil has nothing to do with dictatorship as “it exists in some other countries as well”. The Saudi oil expert said that oil defeated communism, as 'it helped to send the Russians out of Afghanistan'.."

SAGIA, Intel to Set Up $100m Company [Nov 17]
"The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) and Intel Capital, Intel’s venture investment program, yesterday announced a cooperative effort to establish an independent $100 million venture capital investment company (fund) to invest in technology companies located in, or having a connection with, Saudi Arabia.."

PR Forum 2005 Set to Cultivate Public Relations Industry in the Kingdom [Nov 17]
"..In what is considered to be the first dedicated public relations forum in the Kingdom, the Forum aims to cultivate the public relations industry in the kingdom this coming November 28-29, 2005 at the Hilton Jeddah.. ..The two-day meet, which is expected to draw more than 300 practitioners including leading public relations experts, academicians and specialists in the industry, will address key issues regarding the role of public relations in the business and corporate world.."

Saudi Arabia Tight-Lipped On Israeli Trade Question [Nov 17]
"Saudi Arabia remained tight-lipped Wednesday about whether it will actually trade with Israel, a week after being allowed into the World Trade Organization, whose regulations forbid members to boycott each other. Like many other Arab states, Saudi Arabia has maintained a boycott on trade with Israel - alongside its rejection of diplomatic ties. The oil-rich kingdom, home to Islam's holiest sites, has long maintained it won't establish relations with Israel until a comprehensive peace is reached with all Arab states. Even after the WTO's approval of its bid to join, Saudi Arabia wasn't rushing to announce an official end of the boycott.."

Malaysian Firms Invited To Bid For Saudi Privatisation Projects [Nov 16]
"Following the success in clinching a gigantic deal in Saudi Arabia's first independent water and power project (IWPP) Shuaibah III, Malaysian companies are again invited to participate in the remaining projects.. ..the electricity and water sectors are undergoing change and restructuring in line with international industry standards and the Saudi Arabian government is embarking on a privatisation plan and changing regulation framework to allow the participation of local and foreign private sector investors.."

Brown and Breton to Urge More Oil Transparency on Saudi Arabia Visit [Nov 16]
"British Finance Minister Gordon Brown and his French counterpart Thierry Breton will travel to Saudi Arabia this weekend, probably to press for more transparency in world oil markets.. ..The visit by the two ministers will coincide with the inauguration of the permanent secretariat in Riyadh of the International Energy Agency which a number of ministers from oil-producing countries are expected to attend.."

Saudis To Use Planes to Patrol Iraq Border [Nov 15]
"The Commander of the Borders Guards in the northern borders of Saudi Arabia, Major General Ali Al Anazi said, "The Borders Guards Command is planning to use planes to control and protect the Saudi borders on a permanent basis.. ..He denied reports by some foreign media about the infiltration of Saudi youth through the Saudi borders with Iraq.."

IEA Says Saudi Arabia Can Increase Oil Output by 2030 [Nov 15]
"Saudi Arabia has the capacity to sharply increase its oil production between now and 2030 to 18.2 mln barrels per day from 10.5 mln currently, said William Ramsay, deputy executive director of the International Energy Agency.. ..Ramsay said that Saudi oil reserves are sufficiently large to reach this level within this timespan, even if the reserves were overestimated by 30 pct and even if there is a sharp rise in production costs.."

Saudi Arabia On Path to Digital Future Says Intel Chairman [Nov 15]
"During his first visit to Saudi Arabia, Intel Corporation Chairman Craig Barrett commended the country for making strides to diversify its economy through technology.. ..technology-related initiatives have contributed to Saudi Arabia's IT sector being one of the largest and fastest growing in the Middle East.."

SBI to Open Branches in Saudi Arabia [Nov 15]
"Saudi Arabia has liberalized its banking sector by giving licence to State Bank of India and nine other foreign banks to open branches in the Kingdom.. ..Al-Jasser said Saudi Arabia was not forced to open new Saudi or foreign banks because of its accession to the WTO. 'The opening of new branches is based on the country's need, not on WTO membership' he added.."

Saudi Arabia Property Fund Will Open the Door to City Investors [Nov 15]
"Saudi Arabia is further lifting its veil to British investors with a £30m fund to allow them to tap into the country's booming property market. The Bahrain-based Unicorn Investment Bank (UIB), which plans to float on London's AIM next year, is launching its KSA Real Estate Fund to circumvent strict Saudi rules which prohibit foreigners investing in property in the country.."

Saudi Stock Market Holds 16th Position in World [Nov 15]
"Saudi bourse holds 16th position among the world’s 50 largest stock markets, Jemaz Al-Suhaimy, governor of the Capital Market Authority, announced yesterday. 'The market grew by an average of 38 percent annually and 95 percent this year'.."

Intel Chief to Visit CITC [Nov 15]
"The chairman of the Intel Corp., Dr. Craig R. Barrett, is visiting the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) in Riyadh today in response to an invitation from CITC Governor Dr. Mohammed Al-Suwaiyel. The visit is expected to facilitate discussions on CITC-Intel collaboration in information and communication technology (ICT) issues.."

Moody’s Lifts Saudi Ratings [Nov 15]
"Ratings agency Moody’s lifted Saudi Arabia’s foreign currency rating by two notches to A3 yesterday, citing soaring oil revenues, progress on economic reforms and greater economic transparency. This brings Moody’s rating closer to those other agencies have assigned to the world’s top crude exporter.."

Saudi Railway Project Picks Up Speed [Nov 15]
"Saudi Arabia is now accelerating the implementation of its various projects in the transport sector. Rail projects especially are getting due attention. Saudi Arabia’s landmark railway expansion project, which links its east with the west as well as the cities of Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah, has been making a remarkable headway.. ..The new railway project will promote travel and freight transportation across the Gulf.."

Water, Power Deals Signed [Nov 15]
"Many contracts are being signed by Saudi, British and Japanese companies in the water and power sectors. This came on the sidelines of the three-day Jeddah Water and Power Forum which concluded here Monday. Because of Saudi Arabia's privatization plan, there are immense opportunities for foreign companies.. ..The water and power conference was organized by CWC associates Limited in coordination with the Jeddah Marketing Board and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.."

Saudi-US Dialogue Opens [Nov 14]
"US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal inaugurated the US-Saudi Strategic Dialogue at meetings held yesterday and the day before.. ..The Strategic Dialogue launched yesterday was conceived by President George W. Bush and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah during their summit in April 2005. The objective is to strengthen, deepen, broaden and institutionalize the historic ties that have bound the two countries for over sixty years.."

U.S., Saudi Arabia to Boost Anti-terror, Energy Ties [Nov 14]
"..Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Saudi Arabia to play a stronger role in confronting terrorist groups and their financiers. 'I'm certain the Saudi government can do better,' Rice said at a news conference with Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi foreign minister. 'All of us can do better. But there is, I think, no lack of political will'.."

U.S. Envoy Sees No Lack of Will of Saudis to Combat Terrorism [Nov 14]
"US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised Saudi Arabia s efforts in fighting terrorism and reiterated the strong relationship between the United States and the Kingdom.. ..Rice s remarks on Sunday were in sharp contrast to last week s US Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in which several senators demanded a harder line be taken against Saudi Arabia in what they see as the Saudi government turning a blind eye to terrorism funding and a lack of complete cooperation in rooting out terrorists.."

Security Tightened [Nov 14]
"Security around hotels, hospitals and general establishments in the Kingdom has been tightened after the triple suicide bombings that shook the Jordanian capital Amman last week.. ..The extra safety measure orders were received from the interior ministry.."

Saudis Surprise Condi With Birthday Cake [Nov 14]
"Saudi officials surprised visiting Condoleezza Rice on Sunday with a chocolate cake to celebrate her 51st birthday. Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal told Rice, in the Kingdom to improve ties between the two countries, that they had one more issue to discuss. A cake with Happy Birthday to Condi written on it and bearing the US and Saudi flags was then wheeled out. Rice's birthday is on Monday.."

Many Companies Are Not Fit to Go Public, Says FTH Chief [Nov 14]
"There are many companies which are not fit and therefore not ready to go public, says Faisal H. Alsayrafi. During an exclusive interview to Arab News recently, the president and CEO of Financial Transaction House (FTH) felt many businesses need to undergo a major turnaround before they can join the structural reform of the stock markets.."

Investment Strategy to Chart Rapid Economic Growth [Nov 14]
"..With a population forecast of almost 36 million by 2020, the Kingdom is slated as the water desalination and energy capital of the world.. ..SAGIA envisions rapid economic growth capitalizing on the Kingdom’s competitive strengths as the global capital of energy.."

Students From Saudi Arabia Flock to OSU [Nov 14]
"The English Language Institute is expecting a large influx of Saudi students following King Abdullah’s decision to offer 5,000 full-ride scholarships to college age Saudis to study in the United States. The move came after a meeting between Abdullah — then Crown Prince Abdullah — and President Bush, during which they discussed ways to improve relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia.."

WTO Membership Won't Change Sponsorship Law [Nov 14]
"Direct investment in the Saudi stock market and real estate sector will remain closed for expatriates in Saudi Arabia. Many expats in the Kingdom were hoping that investment regulations will change to allow them to invest in the Saudi stock market and real estate sector after the Kingdom becomes an official member of the World Trade Organization in December.."

New Controls for Recruitment of Domestic Workers [Nov 14]
"New controls for the recruitment of domestic workers were announced Sunday by the Ministry of Labor. The controls, which will be effective from next month, stipulate that a Saudi family can recruit domestic workers if it has one or more children or if the wife is an employee or a student. Besides this it should possess the necessary financial capability.. ..they are meant to safeguard the male and female domestic workers rights through stipulating the recruiter s financial capability.."

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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