Saudi-US Relations Information Service

Keeping Track - Recently on SUSRIS










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Saudi King's Remarks Anger U.S., But May Build Arab Credibility [Mar 31]
"King Abdullah's harsh - and unexpected - attack on the U.S. military presence in Iraq could be a Saudi attempt to signal to Washington its anger over the situation in Iraq and build credibility among fellow Arabs. The kingdom has taken an aggressive leadership role to quiet Mideast troubles, and wanted to show other Arabs it was willing to put their interests above its close ties to the United States.. ..The next day, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani bristled at the comment in his speech to the summit, saying the term occupation has "negative implications" and is "in contradiction" to the vision of "Iraqi patriotic and national forces." A Saudi official said the king was speaking as the president of the summit and his remarks reflected general frustration with the "patchwork" job the Americans were doing to end violence in Iraq. The king also wanted to send a message that Iraq is an issue that Arabs cannot turn their back on, the official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.." [more]

Saudi Arabia to Supervise Resolution of Darfur Crisis [Mar 31]
"Sudan should deal on Darfur crisis file with the United Nations and the international community through the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in order to avoid confrontation over the deployment of UN-AU forces in Darfur.. ..According to the Arabic language al-Hayat, It was agreed on a meeting on the sideline of the Arab summit on March 28 that the file of the Darfur crisis be placed under the supervision of King Abdullah and that the Sudanese Government should coordinate its dealings with the United Nations and the international community through Saudi Arabia, so that no direct confrontations take place with the international community, and in order to avoid pressures exerted on it at present on the issue of deploying international forces in the province which is witnessing an armed conflict.." [more]

Kenya and Saudi Governments Agrees to Jointly Fund Coast Province University [Mar 31]
"The Governments of Kenya and Saudi Arabia on Saturday March 31, 2007 agreed to jointly fund the establishment of a University in the Coast Province and the construction of Garissa Modogashe-Wajir Road. At a meeting between President Mwai Kibaki and the Saudi Minister of Finance and chairman of the Saudi Fund Hon Ibrahim Al Saf, the two Governments agreed that Kenya would provide an initial 5 million dollars for the construction of the Garissa-Wajir road while the balance will be provided by the Saudi government. Speaking at the function, President Kibaki noted that the projects were of great significance to Kenya and singled out the establishment of a fully fledged University in Mombasa as long overdue.." [more]

Russia, Saudi Arabia Sign $100-mln Contract to Build Oil Pipeline [Mar 31]
"A Russian company signed Saturday the first ever contract, worth more than $100 million, to build an oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia with a Saudi company. Stroytransgaz, a construction arm of Russia's energy giant Gazprom [RTS: GAZP], and Saudi Aramco concluded the contract in Dhahran. This is a breakthrough for Russian business to a totally new market, which is the most attractive in the Middle East.. ..It is expected that the construction of the Sheyba-Abkayk oil pipeline, whose length exceeds 200 km (124 miles), will start in June and will be completed in 18 months. The construction will be conducted in the world's biggest sand desert, Rub al-Khali, known for its record high summer temperatures, quick sands and dust storms. The project will be fully implemented by the Russian company, but workers from other countries would also be employed.." [more]

Profit-Taking Sends Saudi Stocks Plunging [Mar 31]
"The Saudi stock market plunged last week that was fueled by profit-taking pressures on the part of scared investors who wanted to evade further losses. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) plummeted 7.84 percent last week, closing at 7,889.74 points, down from 8,560.82 points previous week. The Riyadh-based Bahkeet Financial Advisors (BFA) expected the first quarter results, particularly of blue chip firms, to represent the market's "driving engine" for the coming few weeks.. ..analysts blamed "rumors about imminent collapse of the market" for last week's plunge. Salman Al-Nuwaiser, a stock market dealer, said the recent developments would only lessen confidence in the market.." [more]

Olmert Reaches Out to Saudis Over Arab Peace Initiative [Mar 31]
"The Israeli prime minister said he was ready to hold talks with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states about their renewed peace plan but rejected any return of Palestinian refugees as 'out of the question'.. ..'There is a significant chance that in the next five years Israel can get to a comprehensive peace,' Olmert said.. ..'There are interesting ideas there [in the Arab plan], and we are ready to hold discussions and hear from the Saudis about their approach and to tell them about ours,'.." [more]

Parental Opposition Spawns Secret Marriages [Mar 31]
"Many young Saudi women are finding themselves in a knot after secretly marrying.. ..Such marriages are illegal according to Sharia principles. Experts say such marriages are becoming popular because of repeated refusals by the fathers or other family members. Secret marriage contracts in Saudi Arabia is estimated to account for 9 per cent of all marriages.. ..Dr Safar said many officials who are authorised by the Ministry of Justice to finalise marriage contracts are violating their professional code of conduct."
[more]

Academics Working on Education Strategy [Mar 31]
" team of academics are currently working on an ambitious project to set out a 25-year strategy to develop Saudi Arabia’s higher education system in tune with the country’s development and job market requirements.. ..The Ministry of Higher Education spearheaded the project to fulfill the challenges of a sustainable, first-class academic development process. “Among these challenges are academic excellence, high population growth rate, global influence on education principles, ever-increasing funding demands, labor market needs for highly qualified graduates,” Al-Ouhali said. The ministry has designated the Research Institute at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) to present a detailed study for the preparation of a futuristic and effective higher education plan." [more]

Aramco in $5bn China Deal [Mar 31]
"Sinopec, ExxonMobil and Saudi Aramco yesterday held an inauguration ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to mark the formal government approval of contracts and granting of business licenses for their two joint ventures in Fujian province — Fujian Refining & Petrochemical Company Limited and Sinopec SenMei (Fujian) Petroleum Company Limited. The two joint ventures, with a total investment of about $5 billion, are the first fully integrated refining, petrochemicals and fuels marketing project with foreign participation in China. The Fujian refining and ethylene joint venture project, located in Quanzhou, will expand the existing refinery from 80,000 barrels per day to 240,000 barrels per day. The upgraded refinery will primarily refine and process sour Arabian crude.." [more]

U.S. Caught Off Guard by Saudi King's Criticism [Mar 30]
"King Abdullah's sharp criticism of the American presence in Iraq raised eyebrows in Washington, but experts say that the Saudi Arabian monarch's intentions probably complement, rather than conflict with, U.S. goals in the region. Abdullah made his comments during opening ceremonies at the Arab League summit meeting in Riyadh, calling Iraq a place where 'blood is spilled between brothers under an illegitimate foreign occupation and despicable sectarianism that threatens civil war.' Some analysts said the king's statements reflected deep frustration and resentment of U.S. policy in Iraq
and pressure on Arab states to confront Iran. 'I think the king is really fed up with this situation. He's trying to find another way, because he cannot confront Iran (militarily) directly'.." [more]

Olmert Praises Peace Revolution [Mar 30]
"Israel's premier has lauded Arab peace moves as 'revolutionary', but stressed he did not accept the entire Arab plan. Ehud Olmert gave a series of interviews with Israeli newspapers in response to the revival of a 2002 Saudi peace plan, adopted at the Arab summit in Riyadh. He said: 'We do not delude ourselves - they want us to go back to the 1967 borders and also the right of return'. Returning the 1948 Palestinian refugees to what is now Israel, is 'something we certainly can't agree to'. Israel rejected the Saudi plan out-of-hand when it was first proposed five years ago.." [more]

Reassess Stance if Israel Rejects Offer [Mar 30]
"The 19th Arab summit concluded yesterday after revival of the five-year-old peace initiative with Israel. Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al Faisal and Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa said Arabs will have to 'assess' the situation if Israel keeps rejecting the offer.. ..Mousa also criticised the Israeli reaction and said 'Israel wants only normalisation. They don't want to solve the other issues. There is nothing for free, and there should be nothing for free.' 'Enough time' will be given to Israel and the US, the key-sponsor of the peace process in the Middle East, before Arabs 'assess the
situation' as well as their positions after their reiteration of the peace offer produced nothing, Mousa said.." [more]

Rice Calls Saudi Ambassador to Discuss Monarch's Criticism of U.S. [Mar 30]
"U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Saudi Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir to discuss critical remarks about U.S. policy toward Iraq by Saudi King Abdullah at this week's Arab summit in Riyadh. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack gave no details of the conversation.. ..McCormack said the United States has "good, sound relations" with Saudi Arabia and with the king in particular. He added that the United States and Saudi Arabia share the same goals in Iraq.." [more]

Kingdom Warns Against Iran Strike [Mar 30]
"Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal warned of the consequences a strike against Iran regarding its nuclear program would have on the Middle East region. 'The news of any war in the Gulf would have a large impact on the region,' he said, adding that every country in the region was taking 'its own precautionary measures' to defend itself.. ..Asked about the Kingdom’s stance on the 15 British soldiers who are withheld with Iranian officials, Prince Saud described it as 'unfortunate.' 'We do not need any things to add to the already inflammatory situation in the region,'.." [more]

Sudan Agrees to UN-African Darfur Force: Saudi [Mar 30]
"Saudi Arabia said yesterday Sudan had agreed to a joint UN-African Union force in Darfur after a meeting with United Nations, African and Saudi officials on the sidelines of an Arab summit. "Sudan has now agreed for the UN to provide logistical support to help African forces," Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi foreign minister, said at a news conference. 'This means there will be some non-African forces there and this is a breakthrough that never happened before and we hope it leads immediately to a solution to the humanitarian tragedy in Darfur as soon as possible.'.." [more]

Mideast Women Hone Business, Legal Skills in United States [Mar 30]
"Thirty-six women from the Middle East and North Africa are in the United States to participate in six-month fellowships intended to develop their educational and leadership skills. The fellows selected from more than 500 applicants will work at major companies and law firms in the United States. The participants, who range in age from 22 to 32, come from Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, the Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.. ..The fellowships were awarded under the Department of State's Middle East Partnership Initiative ( MEPI ). MEPI was established in 2002 to support economic, political and
educational development in the Middle East and to promote opportunities for women in the region.." [more]

Oil Over $66 on Iran Situation [Mar 30]
"Crude oil futures rose back above $66 a barrel in late-morning trading Friday with the market still on edge as the dispute between Iran and Britain over captured Royal Navy personnel showed no signs of any quick resolution. Gasoline futures tumbled in volatile trading as pre-expiry selling for April delivery gasoline weighed on values.. ..A rumor of armed conflict breaking out between the U.S. and Iran caused Tuesday's late but brief surge to $68.09 that put the front-month crude price at its highest since prices reached $68.85 on Sept. 6.." [more]

Terror Suspect Tortured by US [Mar 30]
"A Saudi man held in US custody for five years has told a military hearing he was tortured into confessing a role in the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000. Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, 41, said he had faced years of torture after his arrest in 2002, a Pentagon transcript from the closed-door hearing said. Mr Nashiri said he made up stories to satisfy his captors, the transcript said, but gave no details of torture. He was among 14 "high-value" detainees moved to Guantanamo Bay in September.. ..The US has accused Mr Nashiri of being the leader of al-Qaeda's operations in the Gulf at the time of the attack in Yemen, which killed 17 US sailors and almost sunk the warship. He was tried in absentia in a Yemeni court in September 2004 and sentenced to death.." [more]

Deep Cynicism Exists Among Palestinians Over Saudi Peace Plan [Mar 29]
"The Arab League unanimously reaffirmed Wednesday its support for a five-year-old Saudi peace proposal that the U.S. and Israel have recently decided might be the best vehicle to revive the Middle East peace process, which has been in a deep coma since 2000. However, with Israel and the Palestinians' Hamas-led government still far from agreeing on terms that might allow them to even speak with each other, there was deep cynicism in the Palestinian provisional capital Wednesday regarding the land-for-peace deal that Arab leaders were speaking enthusiastically about at their Riyadh summit.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Welcomes First Israeli Journalist [Mar 29]
"Saudi Arabia admitted an Israeli journalist for the first time. Orly Azoulay, the Washington bureau chief of the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot, flew to Riyadh earlier this week as part of a press delegation accompanying U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the Arab League summit. Azoulay, a dual French-Israeli citizen, was the only journalist in Ban's entourage to whom the Saudis denied a visa.. ..Last Sunday, while still in Jerusalem, the UN secretary general called the Saudi Foreign Minister, Saud Al-Faisal. Ban asked him to grant Azoulay a permit. According to Azoulay, just a few hours prior to departure an email arrived from the Saudi minister's office, confirming she was invited to the summit.." [more]

Inflation: How High Will It Go in Saudi Arabia? [Mar 29]
"After over a decade in which overall prices barely moved, inflation has begun to emerge in Saudi Arabia. Annual consumer inflation climbed to 2.9 percent in December 2006.. ..Inflation has historically been very low in Saudi Arabia. Since the end of the first oil boom in the 1970s, annual inflation has exceeded 1 percent in only three years: 1990, 1991 and 1995. For the first two of these years, prices were pushed up by the first Gulf war. Inflation jumped in 1995 as concerns about a widening budget deficit stemming from low oil prices led the government to sharply increase the domestic retail price of fuel, electricity and various related products.." [more]

Prince Accused of Drug Trafficking [Mar 29]
"A Saudi Arabian prince used his private Boeing 727 to smuggle $15 million (£7.6 million) of Colombian cocaine into France under the cover of diplomatic immunity, a court was told yesterday. Prince Nayef Bin Fawaz al-Shaalan, a member of Saudi Arabia’s ruling family, has been accused, along with ten others, of organising a vast drug-trafficking operation. If convicted, he faces ten years’ imprisonment and a ban from setting foot on French soil after serving his sentence.. ..Prince Nayef, a grandson of Saudi Arabia’s founding monarch, Abdulaziz, is accused of involvement in the plot to import two tonnes of cocaine into France in 1999.." [more]

Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Report Postponed [Mar 29]
"Member of the Shura Council and President of the Saudi National Human Rights Association (NHRA), a non-governmental organization (NGO), Dr. Bandar al Hajjar has yet to set a date for the issuance of Saudi Arabia’s first human rights report. This comes almost three months after the date the NHRA had initially announced at the beginning of this year.. ..'Delays are a result of the continuous amendments in the report. The association’s objective is to issue a report that includes all the issues related to human’s rights that were addressed or supervised by the association,' he said. A number of the association’s members have divulged that the report will abide by international human rights standards as well as the edicts that were ratified by the Saudi government relating to human rights.." [more]

Mideast Risks War if Peace Plan Fails [Mar 29]
"The 'lords of war' will decide Israel's future if it rejects a blueprint for peace crafted by the entire Arab world, Saudi Arabia's veteran foreign minister warned. Prince Saud Al Faisal told The Daily Telegraph that the Middle East risks perpetual conflict if the peace plan failed.. ..Prince Saud delivered an unequivocal warning to Israel. 'If Israel refuses, that means it doesn't want peace and it places everything back into the hands of fate. They will be putting their future not in the hands of the peacemakers but in the hands of the lords of war,' he said.." [more]

Abdullah Calls For a New Beginning [Mar 29]
"..King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia asked during his opening speech. 'I don't want to blame the Arab League because the league reflects our real situation, so the blame should fall on us. We, the leaders of the Arab nations, our permanent differences, and our refusal to go on the path of unity - all that has made the nation lose confidence in our credibility as well as hope in today and tomorrow,' the king said after opening the 19th Arab summit, the first to be held in Saudi Arabia.." [more]

On the Summit Sidelines [Mar 29]
"President of the UN General Assembly Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa became the first woman to address an Arab summit since the creation of the Arab League in 1945, as she took the podium at the opening of the leaders’ gathering in Riyadh yesterday. The Bahraini lawyer and diplomat said she was very happy to attend the summit.. .. Al-Khalifa urged Arab countries to remove barriers to ensure the free flow of goods, investment and ideas. She called upon Arab leaders to develop the Arab world into a political and economic force that can enter into dialogue with other countries and cultures.." [more]

Saudi Stock Index Falls Below 8,000 [Mar 29]
"Saudi Arabia’s stock index ended below 8,000 points for the first time since Feb. 14 spurred by declines in its largest stock.. ..The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) fell for a third day, dropping 1.57 percent to 7,889.74 points, its first time closing below 8,000 points since Feb. 14, and extending three days of losses to 8.5 percent. Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), the world’s largest chemicals firm by market value, led declines, falling 2.52 percent. 'There are a lot of market rumors that the index will drop because it has rallied so much, which is leading retail investors to sell'.." [more]

Analysis: All Eyes on Saudi Arabia [Mar 28]
"All eyes will be turned towards Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital Wednesday and Thursday, as the Arab world's leaders gather amid high hopes that a peace deal will result from the summit meeting. Indeed, summit host King Abdullah will be working hard to convince his fellow Arab leaders to make an offer of peace to Israel, amid equally high hopes that Israel will accept such an offer and reciprocate.. ..But the road to peace in Palestine is obstructed by a number of hurdles blocking the way to a lasting
agreement between Palestinians and Israelis. For decades, negotiators have stumbled on three major sticking points, unable to find a way around them. First: Arab recognition of Israel's right to exist and Israeli recognition of a Palestinian national home behind secure borders. Second: Palestinian refugees' demand for their 'right of return.' Third: Jerusalem's status as the capital of a future Palestinian state.." [more]

Heads of 16 States Expected to Take Part in Deliberations [Mar 28]
"Kings, shaikhs and presidents of the majority of Arab countries arrived in Riyadh yesterday to attend the 19th Arab summit, starting today, which is expected to revive a five-year-old Arab peace initiative with Israel. Heads of 16 states are expected to participate, while four countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Oman and Somalia) are represented by envoys or deputies to their leaderships. It was not clear yesterday afternoon who will to represent Mauritania. Libya is the only Arab country to boycott the summit.. ..Saudi authorities have facilitated the arrival of nearly 500 journalists from around the world to cover the Arab summit to correct the image of Saudi Arabia, and remove 'misunderstandings.'.." [more]

Saudi King Slams Illegitimate Occupation of Iraq [Mar 28]
"Saudi King Abdullah, whose country is a close US ally, slammed Wednesday the 'illegitimate foreign occupation' of Iraq in an opening speech to the annual Arab summit in Riyadh.. ..'In beloved Iraq, blood is being shed among brothers in the shadow of an illegitimate foreign occupation, and ugly sectarianism threatens civil war,' Abdullah said. He also said that Arab nations, which are planning to revive a five-year-old Middle East peace plan at the summit, would not allow any foreign force to decide the future of the region. In the past, Saudi leaders including foreign minister Prince Saud Al Faisal have often criticized US policy in Iraq but have never described its presence there as
'illegitimate'.." [more]

World Media Converge on Riyadh [Mar 28]
"Several hundred journalists, including women, from some 20 Arab and Western countries have arrived for media coverage of the 19th Arab summit, which begins here today.. ..Speaking at the media center, Afshin Molavi, fellow, New America Foundation, said the Saudi Embassy in Washington had streamlined visa issuance. He said the summit reflected Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s vision in unifying the ranks of the Muslim Ummah for overcoming the challenges. 'This summit makes it clear that the Arab world would like to solve its own problems, since it has found the US ineffective in this regard'.." [more]

Summit’s Draft Resolutions [Mar 28]
"The following are excerpts from draft resolutions before Arab leaders attending the summit: Palestine: The Arab League proposes reactivating the Arab peace plan offering normal ties with Israel if it fully withdraws from all land it occupied in 1967, permits an independent Palestinian state and allows the return of Palestinian refugees.. ..Syria: Rejects the so-called “Syria Accountability Act” and urges the United States to reconsider it.." [more]

US Starts Largest Exercise Since War [Mar 28]
"The US navy is staging major war games in the Gulf involving two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and their strike groups in the most intense military buildup since the 2003 war on Iraq. 'This marks the first time the (carriers) John C. Stennis and Dwight D. Eisenhower strike groups have operated together in a joint exercise while deployed to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet,' Lieutenant Commander Charlie Brown.. ..The sea and air exercises will be conducted amid growing tension in the region following Iran's capture of 15 British sailors and marines, including one woman. But Brown denied that the exercise was aimed at exerting pressure on Iran or any other country.." [more]

TV Show to Take Up Women’s Rights [Mar 28]
"Haifa Al-Mansour caused a storm of controversy behind the camera. Now she’s moving to the other side. The award-winning Saudi filmmaker will host a new LBC show, 'A Woman and More.' The series aims to tackle many divisive topics affecting Saudi women, including the lack of women in decision-making positions, the absence of female judges, women driving, incest and rape. The show will premiere on April 1.. ..'Through the program we hope to educate Saudi women about their rights,' she said. 'Arab women, in general, and Saudi women, in particular, have a profound need to know what their rights are, and the mainstream media has generally neglected to educate them'.." [more]

Empowerment of Women Key to Future Prosperity [Mar 28]
"At a recent forum looking at the role of Saudi women in the year 2020, the discussions were candid, the potential was exciting and the reality often disturbing. The event was organized by the Khadija bint Khuwailid Center for Businesswomen at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), and it was clear that women have an important role to play in the future of Saudi Arabia.. ..The greatest impediments to Saudi women today are religious extremists who have exerted an intolerant stranglehold on the social and educational environment for a very long time. They continue to resist the implementation of reforms and accuse government reformists of adopting policies that fall beyond the
narrow bounds of their so-called 'Muslim' way of life.." [more]

OPEC: Supply Fine, Price Hike Geopolitical [Mar 28]
"Oil prices have risen because of political tension over Iran and there is no need for OPEC to pump more oil, the exporter group's secretary-general said Wednesday. Oil was trading above $64 a barrel Wednesday, with traders still rattled by a $5 spike overnight on a rumor - quickly dismissed by the United States - that a U.S. naval vessel had clashed with Iran. 'The increase is due to the geopolitical situation. This is a risk premium. I hope the situation will be resolved peacefully very soon,' Abdullah al-Badri told Reuters by telephone from OPEC's Vienna headquarters. 'As far as we are concerned, the supply and demand situation is balanced, it's fine. There is plenty of oil in the market'.." [more]

Olmert and Abbas Agree to Regular Talks, says Rice [Mar 27]
"Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed to meet every two weeks and will discuss initial steps that could eventually lead toward a Palestinian state, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Tuesday.. ..Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had previously ruled out talks on Palestinian statehood with President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah after he formed a unity government with Hamas Islamists.. ..Israeli and Palestinian officials had no immediate comment.." [more]

Arabs Head to Saudi Summit to Endorse Mideast Peace [Mar 27]
"Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr said on Tuesday the time was right for Arab states and Israel to frame a settlement of their conflict with broad international backing. Arab leaders arriving in Riyadh were expected to relaunch a peace initiative that offers Israel normal ties with all Arab states in return for full withdrawal from land it occupied in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel rejected the plan in 2002, but along with the United States has recently shown more interest.. ..The draft resolution sets up a mechanism to promote the peace plan that could pave the way for Arab countries with no ties to Israel to open up their own official diplomatic channels -- a long-time goal of U. S. administrations.. " [more]

Arab Analysts Skeptical Over Rice’s Peace Moves [Mar 27]
"US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice could be carrying proposals for pushing forward the Arab-Israeli peace process, but governments of the region should avert 'excessive optimism' as to the outcome of the new US round of diplomacy, Arab politicians and analysts said yesterday. They pointed out that the time was 'ripe' for putting pressure on the US administration to exert serious efforts toward the conclusion of a peaceful settlement between Israelis and Palestinians, given Washington’s 'plight' in Iraq and the standoff with Iran.." [more]

Saudi Has Sharpest Plunge in 8 Months [Mar 27]
"The Saudi stock exchange, the Arab world’s largest bourse, made its sharpest one-day decline in more than eight months yesterday paced by its biggest company Sabic.. ..The Saudi index fell 6.05% to 8,098.63 points, its lowest close since February 19. The last time the Saudi bourse fell more than 6.05% in one day was in July 2006. Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic) dropped 6.9% and Saudi Electricity Co lost 8.47%.. ..Analysts said that there was no news about Sabic or other blue chip companies that weighed on their stocks.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Sets Jail Penalties For Cybercrimes [Mar 27]
"Saudi Arabia said on Monday it will impose one-year prison sentences and fines of 500,000 riyals ($US133,000) for internet hacking and misuse of mobile telephone cameras, such as taking unauthorised pictures. The cabinet said in a statement it approved a bill on information technology crimes proposed last year by the kingdom's quasi-parliament, the advisory Shura assembly. The measure is to go to the king for ratification. The bill would penalise 'illegal entry into an internet site or entering a site in order to change its design, destroy it or amend it', it said in a statement published by state media. It also defines as a crime 'infringing upon private lives through misuse of mobile telephones equipped with cameras and similar devices with the purpose of defaming or harming people'.." [more]

Aramco, Sinopec and Exxon to Sign Deal [Mar 27]
"Saudi state oil giant Aramco, US major ExxonMobil and China's Sinopec will hold on Friday a formal signing ceremony for a multi-billion dollar joint-venture in China's Fujian province. They announced they had finalised the deal to triple the capacity of the Fujian oil refinery in February, pending government approval in both Saudi Arabia and China. When it was agreed in 2005, the project had a price tag of $3.5 billion.. ..The deal gives Aramco and Exxon a foothold in China's sector, dominated by state giants Sinopec and PetroChina.." [more]

Oil Eases After Hitting 2007 High, Iran in Focus [Mar 27]
"Oil dipped further below $63 today after hitting a 2007 high the previous day on the widening political dispute between Iran and the West and concerns over supply in the US due to refinery glitches. US light, sweet crude for May delivery was trading down 23 cents.. ..The stand-off between Western nations and the world’s fourth-largest oil producer has compounded market supply fears, although there has been no disruption to Iran’s daily exports of about 2,2-million barrels. 'The market reacted immediately to the political tension,'.." [more]

A Saudi-US Fence Around Iran [Mar 26]
"Iran sent a belligerent warning last Friday: It seized 15 British sailors and marines in the Persian Gulf. The hostile move wasn't aimed only at London. It came just before anti-Iran moves by the UN Security Council and Sunni Arab nations. The real message? 'Don't fence us in.' Tehran's radical Shiite regime faces an unusual partnership of foes opposed to its regional and nuclear ambitions. The United States and Saudi Arabia, either working separately or together, have rallied friends and allies to isolate Iran by adept diplomacy.. ..A bolder Saudi Arabia and a more diplomatic US could make a good team in curbing radical Islamists in the Middle East.." [more]

Saud Allays Arab Fears [Mar 26]
" Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said yesterday that Arab states would not amend their 2002 offer to Israel of normal ties in return for Tel Aviv withdrawing from occupied land. The Arab initiative offers Israel normal relations with all Arab states in return for withdrawal from land occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War and a just and negotiated settlement for Palestinian refugees. Israel has repeatedly rejected the plan and says the Arabs may use it to impose a settlement on refugees and borders.. ..A Western diplomat said Israel and the United States want Arab countries to hold direct talks with Israel over peace terms rather than stick to the existing initiative, which sets Israeli withdrawal from land occupied in 1967 as a condition for peace.." [more]

Saudi Basic Plans To Bid For GE Plastics [Mar 26]
"Saudi Basic Industries Corp. or Sabic, the largest public company in the Middle East, is planning to bid for Fairfield, Connecticut-based diversified conglomerate General Electric Co.'s plastics division in a deal that could be valued at up to $12 billion, sources reported on Monday. GE had said in January it was considering the sale of its plastics division as it focuses on higher-margin growth businesses. GE Plastics supplies plastic resins used in automotive, healthcare, consumer electronics, transportation, construction, telecoms and optical media applications.." [more]

Saudi Aramco Partners with Energy Institute [Mar 26]
"Saudi Aramco, through its Dutch-based affiliate Aramco Overseas Co. B.V. (AOC), announced recently it has joined the Energy Institute (EI) as one of its new technical partners. The partnership means Saudi Aramco will support the work of EI in developing industry standards, guidance and codes of practice, according to a report carried by Saudi Aramco web-site. As an international petroleum company with the world's largest oil reserves, Saudi Aramco has a stake in the continuous improvement of industry practices.. ..The EI works with industry and government, and in association with its technical partners, to provide a broad scientific and technical program, disseminating information to the energy industry through its publications and events.." [more]

WFP Hails Generous Donation from Saudi Arabia to Mauritania [Mar 26]
"The United Nations World Food Programme today hailed a second generous donation in the space of seven months from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its operation in Mauritania, which is strongly directed towards saving young children from the ravages of malnutrition. The US$2 million donation comes at a critical time ahead of the annual 'lean season' when the poorest families struggle to meet their food needs as they wait for the next harvest. It is also a vital boost to an operation, which has struggled for funding in recent months.." [more]

New Sectors Opened to Foreign Investors [Mar 26]
"Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Economic Council yesterday issued a landmark decision allowing foreign investment in such vital sectors as insurance services, wholesale and retail trade, air and train transport, and communication services. 'The SEC has revised the list of economic sectors in which foreign investment will not be allowed, thus allowing foreigners to invest in new areas,' said Abdul Rahman Al-Tuwaijeri.. ..The negative list of investment was also revised to comply with Saudi Arabia’s commitments under the regulations and conditions of the World Trade Organization. The Kingdom became the 149th member of the WTO in December 2005.." [more]

OPEC Dictates Higher Prices [Mar 26]
"Saudi Arabia is shipping less oil to customers. OPEC by February reduced daily output by 1 million barrels. Global inventories this year fell the most in a decade. Credit Ali al-Naimi, oil minister of Saudi Arabia, the world's largest exporter, who told OPEC members that production cuts would stop a six-month decline in oil. Crude this year rebounded 26 percent from a 20-month low to $62.81 a barrel. We are happy with the level of compliance,'' Mohamed al- Hamli, president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, said in an interview in Bangkok on March 22. OPEC's unity may keep oil from dropping below $50 a barrel for years to come, energy experts say.." [more]

No Plans to Modify Arab Peace Initiative – Moussa [Mar 25]
"Arab states have no intention of modifying an Arab initiative for peace to make it more palatable to Israel when they convene at a summit in Saudi Arabia next week, the head of the Arab League said on Saturday. 'We fail to understand why we should modify such a peace offer, and make it less objective and less positive. We are not going to fall into this trap,' Secretary General Amr Moussa told a news conference with visiting United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. 'Our hand will continue to be extended on the basis of that initiative,'.." [more]

Arabs to Hold Bi-annual Consultative Summit [Mar 25]
"The final communiqué of the Arab Summit, to be held here tomorrow and on Wednesday, will include a decision to hold a bi-annual Arab consultative summit similar to the GCC consultative summits.. ..'There are a number of concepts for the consultative meetings as some countries, including Egypt, suggested 'mini-summits' to be convened whenever there is a need to discuss issues of importance,' the diplomatic source said. The source, who asked not to be named, said that the region is developing at a fast pace and that important issues could not be delayed till the convening of the annual summit.." [more]

Rice Seeks Renewed Mid East Push [Mar 25]
"The US Secretary of State has called on the Palestinians and Israel to agree a "common agenda" to move forward on establishing a Palestinian state. 'Now we are in a situation in which I think a bilateral approach, in which I talk in parallel to the parties... is the best way,' Condoleezza Rice said. She also called for renewed effort from Arab and Western states on the issue. Ms Rice was speaking after talks in the West Bank town of Ramallah with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.. ..But she said it was essential that the Palestinian government accept international demands to renounce violence and recognise Israel.." [more]

Roh, Abdullah Discuss Mideast [Mar 25]
"South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun arrived yesterday in the capital on a two-day visit to the Kingdom. His visit is the first by a South Korean head of state in 27 years.. ..the president held talks with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on a wide range of issues, according to the South Korean Embassy. Discussions included the escalation of violence in Iraq, the Middle East peace process, tensions in Lebanon and the North Korean nuclear standoff. The two leaders also discussed ways to boost Saudi-Korean relations. A spokesman of the embassy said that during Roh’s visit three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) will be signed between the two countries. They will be on higher education, information technology and electronics and avoiding double taxation.." [more]

S. Korea's Construction Orders in Saudi Arabia to Top US$3 Billion [Mar 25]
"South Korean contractors' construction orders in Saudi Arabia are expected to top $3 billion this year, Seoul's Construction and Transportation Minister Lee Yong-sup told reporters Sunday. 'Korean companies have already secured at least $3 billion in orders for various Saudi infrastructure, including petrochemical and power plants, this year,' said Lee, who arrived here Saturday as part of the entourage of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on his official visit to Saudi Arabia. In 2006, South Korea was the world's biggest winner of Saudi construction orders, with its annual volume of orders here totaling $3.6 billion.." [more]

Motorola Gets Ready for Saudi Blitz [Mar 25]
"Motorola is preparing for a massive push to take market share in the Kingdom during this year. With new infrastructure solutions to support operators in meeting customers’ growing demand for data connectivity, and the delivery of compelling mobile experiences through a new portfolio of devices, Moto’s local executives believe they finally have the tools to dislodge Nokia from the top spot in Saudi Arabia.." [more]

Changes in Gov’t Bodies Bode Well for Reforms [Mar 25]
"On the heels of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s recently announced changes to some government bodies, members of the Shoura Council and ministers said that the King was making a powerful commitment to injecting new blood into the nation’s decision making. Several ministers said that the moves were expected, but not over, as the individual ministers – who were themselves reappointed to new terms last week – were put on notice to restructure their administrations. The Kingdom is in the middle of its eighth five-year development plan, which ends in 2010, and emphasizes housing and reducing government waste and corruption.." [more]

US Consulate Attacker Arrested [Mar 25]
"The Ministry of the Interior has announced that the man convicted in the death of a Saudi police officer last year was also responsible for attacks on the US Consulate in Jeddah earlier that year. Investigators concluded through material analysis that the man, who confessed to killing Corporal Muhammed Mesfr Al-Zahrani last Ramadan, also fired on guards at the American compound last April. By determining the methods he used in carrying out his crime, after which he left the region for Baha and hid weapons in one of the mountains there, investigators were able to link the two incidents.." [more]

Riyadh Proposes Postponement of Arab Custom Union Launch [Mar 25]
"Saudi Arabia proposed Saturday postponement of endorsement of the timetable to launch the Arab Custom Union to the Arab summit in 2008 because of measures to establish the Arab free trade zone were incomplete. Minister of Finance Ibrahim Al-Assaf, rotating chairman of the Arab economic and social council, said the proposal was made because some member states of the Arab League failed to implement all phases that would lead to the full establishment of the free trade zone, which entered force in 2005.." [more]

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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