Saudi-US Relations Information Service

Keeping Track - Recently on SUSRIS








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King Abdullah: A Frank King in the Kingdom of Freedoms [Nov 3]
"A warm official welcome .. and a media storm! This is the headline for King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz’s visit to Britain. The Saudi monarch received a cordial reception on the official level, which he undoubtedly deserves, but it also puzzled some people. This was accentuated more so since the media had charged the atmosphere while the king was still on route to London. In all truth, this was expected; King Abdullah is a frank man and candor is one of London’s characteristics." [more]

Unfair Criticisms [Nov 3]
"Some British newspapers launched a volley of criticism on Riyadh during the British Government's reception of King Abdullah. As I mentioned in my previous article, this is a habit of British media when welcoming visiting leaders.." [more]

Saud: Families to Decide on Women Driving [Nov 3]
"Women should be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, but it is not for the government to impose such changes on society, Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal has reiterated. "Myself, I think they should drive," Prince Saud told Britain's Channel 4 news following a state visit by King Abdullah to London this week. "But (we) are not the ones who decide on that. It has to be the families who decide on that." He said the government would not force the issue." [more]

Jeddah Interns Join Fight Against Breast Cancer [Nov 3]
"As part of the ongoing breast cancer awareness campaign in the Kingdom, medical students from the King Abdul Aziz University (KAAU), wearing white laboratory coats, can be seen raising awareness about the killer disease in shopping malls across Jeddah." [more]

Brotherhood Program in Schools [Nov 3]
"A humanitarian brotherhood program will be started in schools here to enforce a more respectable way of dealing with foreign workers in the Kingdom, reported Arabic daily Al-Madina. The program will urge students to respect expats and admire the services these workers perform, which complies with the humanitarian concepts outlined by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah." [more]

Girls of Riyadh Get Their ‘Act’ Together [Nov 3]
"With an aim of energizing the Riyadh cultural scene and to create a “real interactive” venue for young women writers and artists, a group of young women from Riyadh recently formed a cultural group called “Act.”" [more]

Fund to Finance Anti-Terror [Nov 3]
"Interior Minister Prince Naif is scheduled to open next Tuesday the meeting of the agencies of the Arab security media. The participants will discuss a package of issues in the agenda including boosting of cooperation among the Arab media security agencies to fight terrorism, crises management and protection from crimes by creating public awareness. They will also discuss a proposal for the establishment of two Arab funds to finance anti -terrorist media programs and joint security media production." [more]

King of all convoys: 22-vehicle motorcade [Nov 3]
"It wasn't your typical dash to the airport. But then when you are King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, nothing in life is particularly ordinary. Unlike most travellers, the ruler enjoyed a majestic trip along the M4 to Heathrow – in a jaw-dropping 22-vehicle motorcade that monopolised the outside lane." [more]

The Growing Menace of Illegals [Nov 3]
"There is a menace growing rampant right in our midst — the increasing numbers of overstayers and illegal aliens who have taken to the streets and neighborhoods to pursue the art of beggary without fear of being caught and deported." [more]

Infrastructure boom in Saudi Arabia [Nov 3]
"An unprecedented construction boom is gaining momentum in Saudi Arabia with a raft of highly ambitious, multibillion-dollar projects to upgrade infrastructure and meet pressing social challenges beginning to have an effect. The boom may be less visible than in the kingdom's smaller Gulf neighbours, such as Dubai and Qatar, but the needs and the numbers are massive - thousands of kilometres of new roads and railways; billions of dollars of water, sewerage and electricity plants; and four million new housing units over the next decade, with investment of $320 billion estimated to be required in housing through to 2020, according to Sagia, the kingdom's investment authority." [more]

Saudis Signal Doubts Over Middle East Peace Talks Called by US [Nov 2]
"Saudi Arabia has signaled that it will not attend the Middle East peace conference scheduled by the US for this month unless there is significant agreement in advance on the core issues that divide Israelis and Palestinians. But Prince Saud al-Faisal, the foreign minister, also held out a vision of normalization between the Arab world and Israel - 'not just the absence of war' - if the conflict could be resolved.. ..The US and Britain have been working hard to persuade their Saudi allies to attend the event in Annapolis, Maryland, although no formal invitations have yet been issued and there are signs the timing may slip.. ..'We have been negotiating for 70 years and we are still at first base,' said Prince Saud. 'This is now the oldest conflict in the world. It is becoming more rather than less complicated over time. We need to move expeditiously in a reasonable amount of time.'.." [more]

Saudi Foreign Minister Seeks to Avert Iranian Nuke Standoff With Joint Nuke Facility [Nov 2]
"Saudi Arabia today revealed details of an ambitious offer to Tehran, aimed at defusing the growing crisis over Iran’s controversial nuclear program, reported the Times of London. Speaking at the end of the state visit to London by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, his Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said that every effort must be made to avert what many fear could turn into a military confrontation between the United States and Iran.. ..Prince Saud said that to defuse the row, Saudi Arabia and a consortium of Arab Gulf states had invited Iran to produce enriched uranium jointly, where the plant could be properly monitored by international observers. 'We have proposed a solution, which is to create a consortium for all users of enriched uranium to do it in a collective manner that would distribute (nuclear fuel) according to need,'.." [more]

Explore Investment Opportunities: King [Nov 2]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah expressed his happiness at hosting thousands of Britons in the Kingdom and commended their valuable contribution to the Kingdom’s rapid development. King Abdullah was speaking at a banquet given by the Lord Mayor of London John Stuttard on Wednesday night. He added that more than 5,000 Saudi students were studying at various British universities. 'These facts make us optimistic about the future of our economic relations, and I would like to take this opportunity to ask you to benefit from these great opportunities, which are available in the promising Saudi market, not only in the fields of import and export but also in the field of investment and joint projects — notably that pertaining to transference of technology,'.." [more]

Gulf Oil Exporters Cut Interest Rates [Nov 2]
"Saudi Arabia and other Gulf oil exporters cut some interest rates on Thursday to make bets on revaluations of their dollar-pegged currencies less attractive after the Federal Reserve reduced US borrowing costs. The Saudi riyal hit a three-week low after the central bank of the world’s largest oil exporter cut its reverse repo rate by 25 basis points.. ..The Saudi central bank, concerned about quickening inflation at home, opted to ignore the last Fed cut on Sept 18, firing market speculation of an imminent revaluation that drove the riyal to a 21-year high. Bids on the riyal fell as low as 3.7430 per dollar, its weakest since Oct 8, after the Saudi rate cut. The central bank has officially kept the riyal stable at 3.75 to the dollar since June 1986, although on the market its latest 21-year peak was 3.7290 on Oct 10.." [more]

Oil Exhibition Precedes OPEC Ministerial Talks [Nov 2]
"The International Oil Exhibition, arranged by the OPEC Summit Organizing Committee, which will take place at the King Faisal Hall at the Intercontinental Hotel in Riyadh from Nov. 13 to 16, will be followed by a ministerial symposium of member countries. The four-day exhibition will feature prominent exhibitors, including national oil companies of OPEC member nations, major international oil companies such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, Nippon Oil and Shell.. ..A tour of strategic areas within Saudi Arabia is also on the agenda, including a visit to Makkah Province, which includes a stop in Rabigh to visit PetroRabigh.." [more]

The Denial of Facts does not Obliterate Them [Nov 2]
"The British are like the Arabs; they do not want others to criticize them even when their mistakes are as glaring as daylight. This is the reason they have adopted this defensive stance towards Saudi King Abdullah’s statement, which is about something they admit secretly amongst themselves. He said that many states, including Britain, are not doing enough to fight international terrorism. King Abdullah did not claim heroism or distinction with this criticism. In fact; he acknowledged the scale of the problem and furthermore admitted that the eradication of extremist terrorism, including combating Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia, could take up to another 20 years. He did not claim victory despite the fact that Saudi Arabia has succeeded in confronting Al Qaeda more than any other country.." [more]

Wise Initiatives Needed to Avoid Wars [Nov 1]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has called upon the international community to take wise and bold initiatives in order to resolve global conflicts with justice before they drift into devastating wars. 'Every conflict, even if complicated, can be resolved if we tackle it with a spirit of justice and impartiality,' the king said while addressing a banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night.. ..At the banquet hosted by the queen, King Abdullah suggested that the peace talks were a priority for him as well. 'I am confident we will find from your majesty’s government every help to end the tragedy suffered by our Palestinian brethren through genuine peace to protect the rights of all parties,' the king said.." [more]

All Eyes on Saudi as US Cuts Rates Again [Nov 1]
"Gulf Arab currency markets are set to focus on the dollar-pegged Saudi Arabian riyal on Thursday after a US Federal Reserve rate cut raised pressure on the central bank of the world's biggest oil exporter to follow. The Saudi central bank, concerned about quickening inflation at home, opted to ignore the last Fed cut on September 18, firing market speculation of an imminent revaluation that drove the riyal to a 21-year high. The Saudi central bank usually follows US monetary policy to maintain the relative yield on the currency.. ..The US interest rate cuts have divided the six Gulf Arab states that had agreed to keep their currencies pegged to the dollar until monetary union in 2010.." [more]

Thousands of African Migrants Smuggled into Saudi Arabia [Nov 1]
"..Many African migrants go to oil-rich Saudi Arabia looking for a better life, according to Somali leaders in Yemen. Most of the African women find employment illegally as maids in Saudi homes.. ..Sadat Mohammed, head of refugee affairs in the Somali community in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, estimates that between 5,000 and 6,000 Somalis have tried to enter Saudi Arabia from Yemen since September, including children. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), so far in 2007 more than 20,000 African migrants have crossed the Gulf of Aden by boat.." [more]

Saudi Investment Forum 2007 to be Held From 24 -26 November [Nov 1]
"The CWC Group (CWC) and Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Eastern Province today announced that the Saudi Investment Forum 2007 - the Strategic Conference & International Exhibition - will now be held on Saturday 24th - Monday 26th November 2007 in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.. ..The original dates of Sunday 17th to Monday 19th November 2007 has been changed in order to maximise senior government and industry involvement at the Forum and avoid a time conflict with the upcoming OPEC Heads of State Summit. The Forum is a unique event which enjoys the full support of the Saudi government and has been designed to ease the path of interested parties who wish to participate in the projects required in the Kingdom.." [more]

Soaring Oil Climbs Past $96 Mark [Nov 1]
"Oil prices have continued their unremitting climb, passing the $96 a barrel mark after figures showed a surprise fall in US crude reserves. US light crude rose as high as $96.24 in Asian trading on Thursday morning before falling back to $96.05. Traders were concerned by a second weekly fall in US crude stockpiles ahead of the intensive winter period. At the current rate of increase, prices are set to top $100 a barrel during the next week. Adjusted for inflation, prices are still below the $101 high reached in November 1980.." [more]

GCC Economic Growth to Slow Despite Surging Crude [Nov 1]
"The surge in oil prices notwithstanding, economic growth in Gulf Cooperation Council countries in dollar terms is expected to slow sharply this year, but macro fundamentals will remain 'extremely' strong, according to HSBC. Stressing that the first phase was already over with 2003-06 seeing four consecutive years of double digit growth, public finance being overhauled and trade and current accounts registering huge surpluses, HSBC chief economist (Gulf Markets) Simon Williams said 'the second phase does not look so great at first glance.'.. ..Observing that net exports were the growth stimuli during the first phase, Williams said it would slow 'markedly' and domestic demand will establish itself as the prime growth driver. He said the new oil price era had transformed Gulf as an economic proposition and 'oil dependency was a key economic weakness but it is now the catalyst for long term growth.'.." [more]

Society Formed to Protect Abuse Victims [Nov 1]
"A new charity to help victims of domestic abuse has been established with its board members finally elected on Monday at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).. ..Lafi Al-Balawi, one of the founders of the society, said that the body would be the first of its kind in the Kingdom. The society will be based in Jeddah and will offer protection to victims of abuse, including women and children.. ..She attributed the increase in domestic abuse cases in the Kingdom to a parallel increase in divorce, family problems and the lack of awareness. She also pointed out the need to prepare people who are getting married on how to deal with marital life.." [more]

Global Forum Sets Out Program to Save Marine Environment [Nov 1]
"The ninth global meeting of the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (RSCAP) ended in Jeddah yesterday with the release of the Jeddah Declaration. The declaration set out the program for the protection of the marine environment and coastal regions of member states for the next four years. The Jeddah Declaration, agreed by the parties from 104 countries, acknowledged as axiomatic the 'ultimate dependence of life including mankind and other life forms on the health and integrity of the marine environment.' It also recognized the value of marine and coastal resources as the main source of food security, wealth and health for a 'significant number of people in the world.' Seventy percent of the world’s megacities and 38 percent of the global population, the declaration confirmed, live in coastal areas.." [more]

UK Greets Abdullah With Pomp, Pageant [Oct 31]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah received a red carpet welcome from Queen Elizabeth II yesterday as he began a state visit to the UK, the first by a Saudi king in 20 years. The queen, alongside her husband Prince Philip and Prime Minister Gordon Brown, formally welcomed King Abdullah at Horse Guards Parade in central London, where he inspected a guard of honor. The two monarchs then proceeded up the Mall, festooned with British and Saudi flags, to Buckingham Palace in an ornate gold and black carriage drawn by six white horses. The Queen later hosted a private lunch at Buckingham Palace in honor of Abdullah, attended by the Duke of Edinburgh and heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles as well as the delegation accompanying the king.." [more]

Speech of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah [Oct 31]
".. Relations between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom have been ongoing for some one hundred years and it was in 1945 that the historic meeting took place between the founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the late King AbdulAziz, and one who was among the Prime Ministers who have served Your Majesty, Winston Churchill. It was this meeting which laid the firm foundations for the constructive cooperation which has marked relations between the Two Kingdoms. Nor can we forget the visit by which Your Majesty honored us in coming to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a visit which made a deep and touching impression in all our heart.." [more]

Vatican Says Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Will Meet With Pope Next Week [Oct 31]
"Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah will meet with Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday in the first encounter between a Saudi monarch and a Roman Catholic pontiff, the Vatican said Wednesday. The meeting, during Abdullah's European tour, underlines Benedict's efforts to increase dialogue between Catholics and Muslims. The Holy See does not have diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia but it does with many Islamic countries. Abdullah will also meet with Italian Premier Romano Prodi in Rome later in the day, Prodi's office said in a statement.." [more]

Gordon Brown in an Interview with Asharq Al Awsat [Oct 31]
"The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, is visiting the United Kingdom. How do you assess the relationship between the two countries? Saudi Arabia is an important partner and ally in the Middle East and recent years have seen this relationship broaden and deepen. This is demonstrated by the sheer range of our bilateral political, security and commercial discussions. Our two countries have a long history of friendship and cooperation. This visit is an opportunity to look ahead and plot the course of this relationship in the coming years.." [more]

King, Brits to Sign Agreements Today [Oct 31]
"Within the framework of his current state visit to Britain, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is scheduled to hold talks with British Premier Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street in London on Wednesday. The talks will focus on all aspects of bilateral relations and means of enhancing them further especially in political, economic and commercial fields.. ..In the presence of the Monarch and British Premier the two sides will sign a package of agreements including an agreement preventing tax evasion, a memo on technical and vocational training and another on sport cooperation.." [more]

Saudi-British Business Ties Robust [Oct 31]
"During the past 20 years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom have enjoyed an exceptionally strong trading relationship. Saudi Arabia is one of Britain’s largest trade and investment partners in the Middle East, with the UK among the largest foreign investors in the Kingdom. There are currently more than 150 Saudi-British joint ventures active in the Kingdom, whose total value is around SR56 billion ($15 billion). For over a decade now, the balance of trade has been in favor of the UK. Yet, since the early nineties, Saudi exports to Britain have been growing at a faster rate than imports. This has helped narrow the trade gap — from SR8.7 billion ($2.3 billion) in 1991, to just SR3.5 billion ($933 million) by 2005.." [more]

Manufacturing Booms in Saudi Arabia [Oct 31]
"Manufacturing is likely to be the fastest growing economic sector in Saudi Arabia over the next five years, as the Kingdom urgently seeks to generate more investment in sectors that can provide direct employment. More than half the country's population is under 20 years of age. The effort to combat unemployment is nationwide. While Jubail on the Gulf coast, together with Yanbu on the Red Sea, were established as the Kingdom's main industrial locations in 1976 there has been substantial industrial expansion elsewhere.. ..The number of manufacturing and industrial enterprises in the Kingdom now totals more than 3,800 and these employ 415,000 people. There is a tangible economic benefit with exports of non-oil products amounting to $21bn last year.." [more]

Saudi Bourse in Market Shake-up [Oct 31]
"The Saudi bourse regulator said on Tuesday it is proposing increasing the number of industry indices to 14 as part of a plan to change the way the largest Arab stock market is structured. It also proposes changing how a company's market value is calculated, basing it on the number of shares available for trade rather than all the shares, the Capital Market Authority (CMA) said in a statement. The bourse lists eight indices now. The CMA will announce within two weeks when the changes will be made.." [more]

Al-Huraisi Murder Trial Begins at Riyadh High Court [Oct 31]
"The trial of two members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, who have been charged with the murder of Salman Al-Huraisi during a commission raid looking for alcohol, began at the Higher Court in Riyadh yesterday.. ..A statement from the Governorate of Riyadh mentioned that the trial was just one of three cases currently in session regarding the death of Salman Al-Huraisi. There is another case about the “abuse of authority” by the commission currently being heard in the Court of Grievances in Riyadh. Commission officers who took part in the raid will be held accountable for violations that allegedly took place during the raid..“ [more]

Saudi King's Royal Meet Draws Fire [Oct 30]
"King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has begun his visit to the UK as controversy continues over issues related to the Middle Eastern kingdom. The UK government regards the state visit, the first in two decades, as being of fundamental importance due to Saudi Arabia's involvement in hot issues such as the war on terror, the situation in both Iran and Iraq and the attempt to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians. But the visit has attracted controversy in the UK, with small groups of protestors gathering in London Tuesday ahead of the official welcome.. ..Human rights groups have called on the UK government to react to allegations of the torture of women in the Saudi kingdom. Other issues raised by protesters include the failure of the Serious Fraud Office investigation into alleged bribes surrounding arms deals; and allegations that organizations linked to the Saudi authorities have promoted Islamic fundamentalist literature in UK mosques.." [more]

Riyadh Warns Peace Talks Could Fail [Oct 30]
"King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia warned that a key upcoming conference on peace in the Middle East could fail in the absence of a "serious effort" to address the concerns of all sides involved. The United States is organising an international conference due to be held next month in Annapolis in the state of Maryland. But speaking to BBC radio ahead of a state visit to Britain, the king urged caution over the outcome.. ..'I believe unless a serious effort is put into this in order to reach agreements that satisfy the Palestinians and the Arab world and the Islamic world then I believe the conference may not be successful.'.." [more]

Va. County to Look at Saudi School Texts [Oct 30]
"Fairfax County officials are reviewing Arabic-language textbooks at a private Islamic school following a federal panel's recommendation that the school be shut down. The county does not expect to find any problems with the textbooks at the Islamic Saudi Academy, but wants to study the issue "to put the matter to rest," Fairfax County spokeswoman Merni Fitzgerald said Monday. Earlier this month, a federal human-rights panel recommended that the State Department prevail on the Saudi government to shut the school down until the school's textbooks can be reviewed and procedures are put in place to ensure the school's independence from the Saudi Embassy.." [more]

United Plan Saudi Trip in January [Oct 30]
"Manchester United are planning to take an extraordinary gamble by breaking off from their title defence to make a one-off visit to Saudi Arabia that will raise inevitable questions about whether the club's owners are putting finance before football.Determined to build on a reputation as the world's best-supported club, the Glazer family have provisionally agreed for the team to make a 6,000-mile round trip to Riyadh in January for a testimonial for the former Saudi Arabian international striker Sami Al-Jaber. United will be paid more than £1m for sending their high-profile players.. ..Perhaps tellingly, Barcelona and Real Madrid were both contacted before United but refused because of the travel and security problems. 'We then approached Manchester United and they have agreed to appear," Al-Jaber, who has recently retired after making 163 international appearances, said in Riyadh. The 34-year-old added that a date had yet to be fixed, but "both sides have agreed January'.." [more]

No US Pressure to Allow Sharif`s Return: Saudi [Oct 30]
"Saudi Arabia has dismissed reports that the US is pressuring it to allow former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan ahead of the upcoming general elections even as a Pakistani minister said the PML-N leader could not come back for another three years. There was never any pressure from the United States on the government of Saudi Arabia regarding the matter of the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif," said a press release issued by the Saudi Embassy here. The Embassy described as baseless and false the reports in a section of the media about pressure on the Saudi government for letting Sharif return to Pakistan.." [more]

Saudi CIO Summit 2007 to Focus on IT Project Management [Oct 30]
"Over 400 CIOs, IT managers and ICT project managers are expected to participate in the Summit, which will take place in Riyadh on November 20-21, 2007 at King Faisal Conference Hall, Intercontinental Hotel. The two days event will witness participation of experts and distinguished speakers from leading industry, consulting firms and government bodies will address the event. They include speakers from: Ministry of Communication & Information Technology (MCIT), Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), Saudi Aramco, SABIC, WIPRO, Microsoft, Gartner, Devoteam, King Fahd Military Medical Complex Dhahran (KFMMC) and King Saud University. The main topics to be covered are: IT Project Management approaches, methodologies, tools and techniques. Case studies and success stories also will be explored.." [more]

Saudi Development Fund Received all 5 Baku Schools Built at its Expense [Oct 30]
"The Saudi Development Fund (SDF) project on construction of 5 secondary schools in Azerbaijan has been completed. The Azerbaijan Agency for Rehabilitation & Reconstruction of Areas (ARRA) reported that construction of all the schools has been finished and the SDF mission was satisfied with the project results. According to the ARRA, the State Commission has finished acceptance of only one of these schools, located in Khatayi district of Baku.. ..The project was financed from a $9.5 million SDF grace loan and $2.5 million from the government. Project completion is scheduled for late 2006. Each of the schools is designed for 1,296 pupils.." [more]

Opec: No Plan to Switch From Dollar in Oil Pricing [Oct 30]
"Opec, which produces more than 40% of the world’s oil, isn’t considering whether to price crude in anything other than the dollar even after the US currency sank to a record against the euro, Qatar said. Abandoning the dollar “isn’t yet on the agenda” of the 12-member Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Qatar’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and industry, HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah told reporters at the natural gas conference. Such a change would “need the co-operation of Opec and non-Opec” states, he said. Opec prices and sells its output in dollars. The dollar fell to a record low against euro yesterday, the weakest since the introduction of the European common currency in 1999.." [more]

Jeddah Forum to Discuss Tourism in Muslim States [Oct 30]
"The First Forum of Tourism in Islamic Countries organized by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) in cooperation with the Supreme Commission for Tourism and the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry will kick-start tonight at the Jeddah Hilton Hotel. The objectives of the three-day forum include adopting effective and strong strategies for the promotion and marketing of tourism among OIC countries, adopting a mechanism to improve infrastructure and facilitating the issuance of tourist visas among the Islamic countries.." [more]

Saudi King Criticizes UK on Terror [Oct 29]
"King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia accused Britain on Monday of failing to act on information the Saudis provided that might have averted London's deadly July 7, 2005, suicide bombings. Abdullah told the British Broadcasting Corp. that Britain was not doing enough in the war on terror. He made the comments in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, hours before arriving in London for a state visit. 'I believe that most countries are not taking this issue too seriously, including, unfortunately, Great Britain,' he said through a translator. 'We have sent information to Great Britain before the terrorist attacks in Britain, but unfortunately no action was taken and it may have been able to avert the tragedy.' The king did not specify what information Saudi Arabia provided.. ..Months before the July 7, 2005, attack in which four suicide bombers killed 52 people and wounded hundreds on London's transit network, Saudi Arabia told the British and U.S. governments that it had arrested a young Saudi man who confessed to raising money for a terrorist attack in crowded areas of the British capital.." [more]

Saudi King: Time for International Intel Agency [Oct 29]
"On the eve of his state visit to the United Kingdom the Saudi monarch, King ‘Abdallah, called for the creation of an international intelligence agency that would pool the knowledge of all member states. In a rare interview the king said many of the national intelligence agencies and their governments were simply not doing a good enough job.. ..The idea of an international intel agency is not new, but the call from the Saudi leader will be taken seriously, said an analyst at The Media Line. Given that most of the 9/11 bombers came from the kingdom and that Al-Qa’ida derives much of its strength and support from within the country, ‘Abdallah’s call will be seen positively in the key intel capitals: Washington, London,
Paris, Berlin and Jerusalem, said the analyst.." [more]

We’ll Pressure Iran on Nuke [Oct 29]
"French Defense Minister Hervé Morin said yesterday that Paris and Riyadh were in complete agreement over the concern represented by the Iranian nuclear program and its potential to destabilize the region. Addressing a news conference at King Abdul Aziz International Airport’s Royal Terminal, he said France would continue to apply pressure on Iran in order to bring it back to the negotiating table.. ..The French defense minister said Saudi Arabia and France shared a common concern over Tehran’s nuclear program. 'We share similar views over a number of issues, including the Iranian and Lebanese ones,' he said.." [more]

UK Foreign Minister Pulls Out of Saudi Meeting [Oct 29]
"British Foreign Secretary David Miliband pulled out of a meeting with his Saudi Arabian counterpart in London Monday, but the Foreign Office insisted it was for personal reasons and not a snub.. ..The Foreign Office insisted Miliband's decision to pull out of the meeting with Saudi's Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal was due to personal reasons and was in no way linked to King Abdullah's comments. Miliband's duties are being carried out by junior ministers in his absence.." [more]

$30bn Saudi Venture Plans IPO [Oct 29]
"Saudi Arabia’s Binladin Group and Malaysia’s MMC Corp plan to sell 30% of a jointly owned developer to the public next year to help finance a $30bn Saudi city, an executive said yesterday. The sale, initially planned for 2007, will raise cash for Jizan Economic City in Saudi Arabia’s south as part of a government plan to tap the windfall from record oil prices to develop infrastructure and create jobs. Emaar Economic City, which is building a port and financial centre on the Red Sea coast, raised $680mn last year in the first IPO by a developer of one of six new cities planned by the world’s largest oil exporter.." [more]

Saudi Build and Stone 2007 Expo Opens [Oct 29]
"Prince Mansour Ibn Miteb, deputy minister for municipal and rural affairs, inaugurated a high-profile international fair of building materials and technology here yesterday against the backdrop of the Kingdom's booming construction sector. The six mega economic cities announced by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah together with some 200 major public and private sector projects will attract $250 billion capital within next few years. 'This exhibition, which has been titled as 'Saudi Build and Stone 2007' is featuring the whole range of building products and new technology,'.. .. Referring to the participation of a number of countries in this construction fair, an REC official said that this exhibition, the first of its kind in the Middle East, is likely 'to attract some 50,000 trade and business visitors, who will eventually discover this show as an international forum for exchanging information and clinching on-the-spot business deals.'.." [more]

Saudi Stock Market Regaining Confidence [Oct 29]
"The Saudi stock market continued to surge for the second day this week after rising 3.75 percent last week. As the listed companies announced their third quarter results, the stock market showed positive signs. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) gained 33.46 points to 8,397.97. The index increased 5.86 percent so far this year.. ..Despite the fact that two sectors, the Insurance and Services sectors lost 37.7 and 23.1 points, respectively, the index went up due to the increase in the share price of the leading stock, SABIC. SABIC, a constituent of the Industrial sector, was the reason for the Industrial sector succeeding in gaining 17.1 points.." [more]

University Signs Deals with Nobel prize Winners [Oct 29]
"King Saud University signed cooperation contracts with a number of award-winning scientists and experts, including Nobel, King Faisal and Prince Sultan award winners, at the opening of the Nano symposium in Riyadh on Sunday.. ..Al-Uthman assured that the University is on its way to achieving an international pioneering level, thanks to the generous support it receives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque, King Abullah Bin Abdul Aziz, and his Crown Prince. King Saud University will also sign cooperation agreements with the University of Ohio on November 26, and with the University of Michigan. He added that King Saud's Institution of Nano-tech is being prepared for a national Nano-tech initiative with a budget of SR273 million for 53 research seats.." [more]

UK Bank Regulator Recognizes Tadawul [Oct 29]
"The Saudi Stock Exchange Tadawul is on a selected list of stock exchanges which is recognized by British banking regulator, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for the purposes only of Section 48A of the Finance Act 2005, which stipulates that a sukuk (an Islamic bond or trust certificate) must be listed on a recognized stock exchange.. ..The move by HMRC and the FSA is good news for the sukuk market and should pave the way for a more active
approach to secondary trading.." [more]

UK Politician to Boycott Official Saudi Visit to Protest Handling of Corruption Probe [Oct 28]
"The acting leader of a British opposition party said Sunday he will boycott a state visit by Saudi King Abdullah to protest the handling of a British investigation into claims that members of the Saudi royal family received kickbacks as part of a massive arms deal. Vince Cable of the Liberal Democrats, Britain's second largest opposition party, said he also wants to protest Saudi Arabia's human rights record by turning down invitations to all the ceremonial events during the king's four-day visit. It begins Monday and is to include a banquet held by the Queen Elizabeth II in his honor at Buckingham
Palace.." [more]

For Oil Producers, Energy Security Rises Up The Political Agenda [Oct 28]
"Energy security, traditionally a high priority for consumer countries that depend on imported oil and natural gas, is now topping the military and foreign policy agenda for producing countries, as they seek to reinforce their credibility in the eyes of volatile global oil markets.. ..This is particularly true in Saudi Arabia and the five neighboring Gulf states that together form the Gulf Cooperation Council. 'GCC states' programs of security cooperation with the U.S. suggest an increased concern about the security of energy and other facilities,' said Neil Partrick, a Gulf analyst with the International Crisis Group. Direct threats to energy infrastructure, by such groups as Al Qaeda Organization in the Arabian Peninsula, had underlined the specific nature of the terrorist challenge to producers.." [more]

Riyadh Will House 7.2m People in 2025 [Oct 28]
"The population of Riyadh will reach 7.2 million in 2025, according to an official study released by the Higher Authority for the Development of Riyadh. Saudis will represent 74 per cent of that total population, the study said. Those under 25 years are estimated at 52 per cent, it added. According to the Authority, a government agency, the present population of Riyadh is 4,260,000 with Saudis representing 65 per cent.. ..The study noted that Riyadh is the fastest growing urban centre in the world. It indicated the city's population had increased by more than 200 times and its area by more than 1,000 times since 1930. The study pointed out that the population growth would require additional focus on social and economic aspects.." [more]

High Oil Prices to Fuel Inflation [Oct 28]
"Rising oil prices are expected to further increase the already record-high inflation across the oil-rich Gulf region, which is reaping a windfall from a quadrupling of oil prices in the last five years. US crude and Brent have been hovering above $85 per barrel, raising concerns of inflationary pressure - a reality taking its toll on the Gulf's growing consumer base.. ..Weakness of the US dollar added to inflationary pressures in the GCC countries, as most of them peg their currencies to the US dollar.." [more]

Gulf Explores Alternative Energy for Post-Oil Era [Oct 28]
"With booming domestic demand for power, the Gulf countries are exploring the use of alternative and renewable energy resources including coal, nuclear, solar, wind and hydrogen, said an industry expert. There are 114 power generation projects of all types in the six GCC countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE together worth more than $160 billion.. ..'The vast majority of power generation projects in the Gulf are for power stations using conventional gas,'.. ..'But the region is struggling to find enough suitable gas to meet future power demand and the first signs are beginning to emerge of major investment in the region into alternatives,'.." [more]

Official Says Saudi Exports to Iraq Expected to Rise [Oct 28]
"With tension mounting on the Iraqi-Turkish border, Saudi exports to Iraq are expected to increase, the chairman of the Saudi Exports Development Centre, Dr Abdul Rahman Al Zamel, said yesterday. He said the value of Saudi exports to Iraq stood at more than 3.2 billion riyals last year.. ..'Large quantities of consumer products like chicken and soft drinks are exported to Iraq on a daily basis,' Al Zamel said. Meanwhile, statistics on Saudi foreign trade have revealed growth in direct Saudi exports to Iraq. These exports increased by 91 per cent to 484 million riyals last year, compared to 253 million riyals in 2005.." [more]

Change in Riyal Rate Ruled Out [Oct 28]
"Saudi riyal will remain pegged with US dollar, announced Governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) Hamad Al-Sayyari at the 74th session of the GCC Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of member countries here on Saturday. This was unanimously decided by GCC countries, which agreed that there was no need to change the exchange rate at present, said Al-Sayyari in a statement after the meeting. Al-Sayyari had chaired the meeting on behalf of Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf, Minister of Finance. Asked if the exchange rate of the dollar continues to drop what would be the stand of the GCC countries, he said the developments will be studied and suitable policies will be adopted.." [more]

Kingdom Seeks to Promote Other Means of Transport [Oct 28]
"The Saudi Ministry of Transportation is drawing up an integrated strategy that seeks to reduce heavy reliance on motor vehicles as the principal means of transportation and promote the railroad and air transportation sectors as the other viable options. The elements of the new strategy were discussed at a workshop on the 'First National Transportation Strategy (NTS)-Issues and challenges'.. ..The message that came out of the workshop was that an integrated transportation strategy was in the national interest of the Kingdom, where one person gets killed in a traffic accident every hour and pollution levels peak, especially during the Haj season.." [more]

Law to Protect Rights of HIV-Infected [Oct 28]
"Saudi Arabia is preparing a national AIDS program that will ensure the protection of rights of AIDS patients and give them the same rights as others to education, health, social activities and employment. The program will also ensure that people with the HIV virus will not be discriminated against in government and nongovernment institutions because of their condition. Officials from The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) and a representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) met yesterday to prepare the initial draft for the new program’s guidelines.. ..The sources of the national program are based on Islam and the international agreements signed by Saudi Arabia in the field of human rights.." [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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