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May 7, 2004 |
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THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR: WE NEED MORE TIME TO CONFIRM AL-QAEDA INVOLVEMENT IN THE ATTACK IN YANBU. THE GCC INTERIOR MINISTERS SIGN THE COUNTER-TERRORISM AGREEMENT. PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL: NO DOUBT THAT ZIONIST EXTREMIST AGENTS SPREADING IN THE WORLD ARE BUSY LAUNCHING A FIERCE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA. GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiya þannounced -that the GCC Ministers have signed the counter-terrorism agreement and approved cross-border move of citizens by show of personal ID. þ þ Speaking after the wrap up of the Interior Ministers fifth consultative meeting held in Kuwait he said the agreement is a mechanism to activate the GCC strategy to combat extremism accompanied by terrorism, that was earlier þapproved by the Ministers during their 20th meeting.þ þþ Also he said the ministers approved completion of procedures relevant to þcross-border move of citizens by show of personal ID. þ þþ He added, all GCC states stand with Saudi Arabia and the measures it is þtaking to face the deviate groups and praised the capability of the security apparatus on tracking them.þ þþ He said the GCC states are indivisible and destabilising one affects þ þsecurity of all other member states.þ þþ The GCC ministers, he went on, reiterated support for all regional and þ þworld efforts to combat terrorism that is threatening the stability and þ þsecurity of all world states.þ þþ During the meeting, he elaborated, discussions touched on the regional þ þsecurity developments, adding that the Ministers voiced utmost concern over þthe deterioration of security in Iraq and brutalisation of the Palestinian people.þ þþ To a question he said cross border move with ID would be enacted thirty þdays after ratification of that by the GCC member states. þ The Ministers of Interior of the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council wound up in Kuwait their fifth consultative meeting. þ In a final communiqué, the ministers said the security of their countries is integral and that harming any organ is like harming the entire body. þ They also announced the completion of measures dealing with the free movement of citizens using identity cards among all GCC member countries. þ The concerned authorities are instructed to expedite the enforcement of the measure. þ Regarding the terrorist attacks which took place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the ministers confirmed their firm stand by the side of the country and absolute support for the measures taken by the Saudi authorities to confront the deviated group, lauding the efficiency of the Saudi security departments. þ The ministers also reiterated support for the agreement on combating all forms of terrorism in the region. þ They renewed the welcome of the GCC countries to any regional or international effort designed to fight terrorism which became a real threat to the world security and stability. þ Reviewing the situation in the region, they expressed concern over the lack of security in Iraq and deterioration of the overall circumstances in the neighboring country. þ Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah þAl-Ahmad Al-Sabah expressed hope that security caution may prevail þin the country in the shadow of recent terrorist attacks in some neighboring þ states.þ þþ Sheikh Sabah, in a statement to journalists on sideline of the National þ þAssembly session, said, "We are not far from the places where the terrorist þ acts have taken place" -- clearly alluding the recent spate of terrorist þattacks in neighboring Saudi Arabia.þ þþ The Prime Minister indicated that the country had, in the past, þ þwitnessed bombing attacks, including the attack that targetted motorcade of the Amir in the 80s.þ þþ Asked on the GCC interior ministers' meeting, held in Kuwait, Sheikh þ þSabah said, "What happened to our neighbors should make us more vigilant." He þalso expressed great confidence that citizens would refrain from involvement in such acts.þ þþ On the other hand Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Minister of Interior, and his accompanying delegation arrived in Kuwait to take part in the fifth consultation meeting of the GCC Interior ministers, starting its deliberations in Kuwait. þ Upon arrival at Kuwait international airport, Prince Naif was received by Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait's First Deputy Premier and Interior Minister, Secretary General of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdul-Rahman Al-Attiyah, the ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Kuwait Ahmad Bin Hamad Al-Yahya. þ In a statement upon his arrival Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Interior Minister, affirmed that security forces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are able to exterminate the deviated group, due to the high spirits and readiness of security forces in confronting terror incidents. Prince Naif made these remarks upon his arrival last night in Kuwait to take part in the consultation meeting of the GCC Interior ministers. þ "Moreover, these vicious goals of this deviated group are already exposed to every one, namely killings of the innocents, engaging into acts of vandalism and causing human and material damages. The most unfortunate thing is that this deviated group is using sons of this country as their tools," he noted. þ Prince Naif said: "What has happened in terms of damages resulting from terror acts, are directed from abroad. These people have been brain-washed abroad to conduct these terrorist acts in order to shake security and frighten people." þ "All community of scholars and intellectuals condemn these criminal acts. The security forces in the Kingdom are dealing firmly with this deviated group in order to root it out, pointing out security forces' success in foiling tens of acts that could have caused huge disasters." Prince Naif stressed that whoever sympathizes with this deviated group is more criminal than them. þ The Interior Minister said that the situation is secured and economic activities in the Kingdom have not been affected by the incidents as the government is determined to confront these things with consistency and wisdom supported by high national spirit of citizens and security men. þ Prince Naif said "the expected signing of a security agreement among GCC states for combating terrorism, is in fact their endorsement of joint accord to confront terrorist incidents." In this context, he cited the signing of an Arab accord in 1998 for combating terrorism. þ He pointed out that the GCC agreement will be more comprehensive in this regard and will reflect the expectations of the people of the region. It will also help security men in carrying out their tasks. þ "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has gained support from the GCC and Arab citizens to confront these incidents that aim at harming Islam in general and the Kingdom in particular. þ In response to a question whether Al-Qaeda group involvement is there in Yanbu attack on last Saturday, Prince Naif said: "Yes, it seems it is involved, but we need more time to confirm this." þ Meanwhile Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Minister of Interior, addressed his Gulf Cooperation Council's counterparts at their fifth consultative meeting held in Kuwait. þ In a key speech, Prince Naif, who leads the Saudi delegation to the conference, recalled that the vast wealth and capabilities of the GCC member states provoked a number of challenges, periodically putting the security of the region at stake. þ He said the accelerating incidents and changes in the region following the 11 September attacks in the U.S. have imposed new security equations in the Gulf region which might lead to chaos and endless conflict. þ If such campaigns were successful in using the means of arbitral accusations and the formation of suspicious organizations, the region will be facing a different kind of terrorism which will not only threaten the security of our countries but also the international security and peace. þ He said the involvement of the so-called Muslim activists in the 11 September attacks has subjected our countries to unjust campaigns, triggered by the behavior of the deviant group in our country. þ Prince Naif highlighted the efforts exerted by the GCC member states in the international fight against terrorism, a great move ignored by the others, he said. þ He paid tribute to the Arab and Muslim official and public support for the Saudi government's confrontation with the deviant group. þ On the other hand Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, held the periodic press briefing of the Foreign Ministry and answered reporters' questions. þ Prince Saud began his briefing with a statement in which he paid condolences to families of the victims of recent terrorist acts which occurred in the kingdom. þ He stressed Saudi resolve to deal with terrorists with an iron fist. He thanked all countries that expressed support for the kingdom. On Iraq, he called for swiftly and genuinely transferring sovereignty to the Iraqis, underlining the importance of United Nations' involvement in the transitional period. þ Prince Saud urged the occupation authority in Iraq to put an end to the horrible violations of the rights of Iraqi prisoners and punish those responsible for them. þ As regards the Palestinian issue, the Kingdom looked forward to the next meeting of the International Quartet Committee to resume the initiative and present positive ideas to revive peace process in accordance with the Road Map and its references and to enforce Israel to live up to its pledges towards the initiative based on the international legitimacy rules, United Nations Security Council's resolutions Nos. 242 and 338 and the principle of land for peace endorsed in Madrid conference. þ Prince Saud emphasized the importance of providing protection for the Palestinians against Israeli aggressive practices through the disengagement of the two parties by deploying international forces under the umbrella of the United Nations or as it is the case in other areas of conflicts in the world. þ On the latest stand of Likud party, Prince Saud said that it proves that Israeli government policy aims at annexing more Palestinian territories, displacing the people and imposing the so-called new facts on land. þ These developments of concern at the Iraqi and Palestinian arenas necessitate the utilization of all efforts and capabilities to confront these very dangerous challenges that storm our region. We hope that the forthcoming Arab Summit will widely discuss all these matters. þ Then Prince Saud answered reporters' questions. þ In response to a question on the remarks made by Crown Prince Abdullah early this week linking the terrorist attacks in the Kingdom with the support of international Zionism, Prince Saud said no doubt that Zionist extremist agents spreading in the world are busy launching a fierce campaign against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. þ It is no secret that the Saudi exiled opponents Al-Masaari and Al-Faqih, with whom the leader of the latest attack had strong links according to the Ministry of Interior's statement, are even financed by Israeli associate parties, Prince Saud said, adding that the remarks of Crown Prince Abdullah came in this context. þ Asked to explain whether the Kingdom holds the Reformation Movement responsible of Yanbu terrorist attack and might request the extradition of its London-based leaders: Al-Masaari and Al-Faqih, Prince Saud referred the questioner to his statement at the opening of this conference. þ Asked whether the Kingdom would follow suit to warn its citizens from traveling to the U.S., the Minister of Foreign Affairs said it is the right of any country to advise its citizens about travel circumstances from its own point of view. þ In this regard, he said everybody knows that security measures to protect visitors and expatriates in the Kingdom are as tightened as those provided for the protection of its own citizens. He said these measures are considered among the best in the world. þ Prince Saud said the kingdom is doing all it can to protect all expatriates. He hoped that this will convince the US and Britain that their citizens are safe in the kingdom. He noted that citizens from those two countries expressed confidence in the measures taken and stated their desire to stay despite the warnings. þ On Israeli nuclear weapons, Prince Saud reiterated the Arab position demanding making the region free from weapons of mass destruction. þ He noted that despite strict dealing with other countries concerning this issue, Israel's possession of weapons of mass destruction is overlooked. þ Prince Saud hoped that a visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohammad Al-Baradea to Israel will underscore the danger posed by Israel's possession of nuclear weapons. þ As for relations between the Kingdom and the United States of America, Prince Saud said that relations are based on mutual interests and long-term friendship. He added, '' The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an independent state. Our relations with the United States are simultaneously based on this independence, friendship and interests combining the two countries. þ He noted that the recent media attack on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia demonstrated much of unclear vision of an American citizen. This vision should be clarified. Relations should be built on reality not on ominous suspected vision of the two countries. þ In reply to another question on a different initiative of the Great Middle East Initiative published in Al-Sharq Al-Awasat newspaper, Prince Saud noted that the Kingdom has not officially received information neither about the previous nor the new one. He stressed that reform should come from inside, but not from outside or under foreign pressure. þ On cohesion between citizens and security men to confront the deviating group in the Kingdom, Prince Saud expressed the Kingdom's appreciation of this cohesion. He pointed out that these criminals and blasphemers are contrary to religion, citing the Kingdom's Grand Mufti as saying they are infidels, since they kill for the sake of killing. The battle against this malicious germ will be over soon, Prince Saud said. þ Prince Saud said all people especially Muslim scholars in the kingdom disapprove of the terrorist acts. þ Responding to a question, Prince Saud said that what he had said during his recent visit to the US was that if the kingdom was accused of what Osamah bin Laden had done, the US should be accused as much because both of the US and the kingdom helped the Mujahideen in Afghanistan to resist the Soviet attack and opened the way for people such bin Laden to commence this action. þ Prince Saud added that bin Laden adopted terrorism not because of the education he had received in the kingdom but because of the directions he had received from a deviant group, a splinter of Muslim Brothers, which had been present in Afghanistan. þ Replying to another question on inter-Arab differences that led to the postponement of the Arab Summit, Prince Saud said that he does not believe that there were differences that can be mentioned leading to the postponement. þ He noted that the postponement period led to deep studies of some important topics particularly the Palestinian issue and the situation in Iraq. He pointed out that the perspectives of these two problems have been greatly changed. þ On U.S. media malicious campaigns against the Kingdom, Prince Saud said that we noted a change in some media by recognizing that many charges leveled at the Kingdom are baseless and incorrect. þ He added that we have a responsibility to clarify our stands, indicating that the Kingdom is open to the international press to pursue facts. þ Prince Saud rejected any connection between the warning of the U.S. administration to its citizens not to travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the occurrence of a terrorist attack in Yanbu not so long after. þ He noted that western governments managed to warn their citizens of the danger of traveling to tense regions so that they could not be blamed if a serious accident took place in that region. þ He urged western partners to exchange security information rather than resort to speculations that could be misinterpreted by the media. þ On the soaring oil prices, Prince Saud said the Kingdom advocates moderate oil prices which he said come in the benefit of the U.S. citizen. þ He said the U.S. - Saudi relations will never be marred by reverse policies in the oil market. þ He quoted the Saudi senior negotiator at the WTO accession negotiations as saying he is optimistic that by the end of this year the Kingdom will obtain the membership of the organization. þ He cited the successes accomplished by the Saudi negotiating team. Few specific points of negotiations remain before the Saudi U.S. negotiators, he said, adding that he believes that thorny issues have been overcome. þ In Sanaa Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh received visiting Prince Mohammed Ibn Naif Ibn Abdul-Aziz, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs who conveyed to the President the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul-Aziz and the Crown Prince and their wishes of prosperity and progress for the Yemeni people. The President, in turn, sent his greetings to the Saudi leadership. þ During the meeting, they discussed joint cooperation in security field and combating terrorism. þ The Yemeni President stressed strong and distinguished relations between the two brotherly countries. He condemned again terrorist acts in the Kingdom, affirming his country's solidarity with and stand by the Kingdom. þ The meeting was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Ibn Mirdas Al-Qahtani and Yemeni officials. þ On the other hand with their plan to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict stalled, the international backers of the Middle East peace roadmap met at United Nations headquarters to try to revive the process. þ U.S. officials said the quartet-U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, top European Union diplomat Javier Solana, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan-would issue a joint appeal for the Palestinians and Israel to move ahead with the roadmap. þ "The Quartet and the international community are prepared to intensify their engagement with the Palestinians to restore momentum on the roadmap," U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan told reporters last night after the Quartet meeting. þ Annan noted previous U.N. Security Council resolutions and affirmed that the Quartet is in conjunction with U.S. President George W. Bush's June 24, 2003 call to end the 1967 Israeli occupation and the land-for-peace initiative of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul-Aziz endorsed by the Beirut Arab League summit. þ On his part, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the statement issued on behalf of the Quartet was an assurance to the Arab world. "This statement should produce that sort of assurance to the Arab world and in conjunction with our other Arab friends to make sure they know the president has not abandoned them," he said. þ Powell reiterated the Arab League endorsement of the land-for-peace formula and noted that Israeli Prime Minister Sharon showed his intention to go from a stalemate position to offering a solution. þ However, he acknowledged that an "ultimate final settlement is between the two parties." þ Other points made by the Annan on behalf of the Quartet include "reinvigorating the reform agenda of the roadmap, including a well-prepared and appropriately-timed electoral process, paying particular attention to areas from which Israel has withdrawn." þ Meanwhile A group of 60 former U.S. diplomats is calling on President George W. Bush to reconsider his endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan because it does not consider the interests of the Palestinians. þ The group of former diplomats in a letter called on Bush to change his stance in order to restore American credibility in the Middle East. "By closing the door to negotiations with the Palestinians and the possibility of a Palestinian state, you have proved that he United States is not an even-handed peace partner," according to a copy of the letter obtained by SPA. þ Among the former officials who signed the letter were Eugene Bird, former counselor to the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia, and Edward Peck, the former U.S. ambassador to Iraq. The group plans to send the letter to Bush on May 18. þ The letter from the former U.S diplomats came a week after a group of 52 former British government officials sent a similar document to Prime Minister Tony Blair calling for the inclusion of the Palestinians in future Middle East negotiations. þ Addressing Bush, the diplomats letter said "Your unqualified support of Sharon's extra-judicial assassinations, Israel's Berlin Wall-like barrier, its harsh military measures in occupied territories, and now your endorsement of Sharon's unilateral plan are costing our country its credibility, prestige, and friends." þ In response to a question from a reporter, Peck said he was concerned that Bush might not be properly informed about the consequences of the Sharon plan. "I believe the President of the United States has been misled by his advisers, who may have an agenda of their own." The Sharon plan would threaten not only the security of Israel and the Palestinians, but also the United States, Peck added. þ "A return to the time-honored tradition of American fairness will reverse the present tide of ill-will in Europe and the Middle East, even in Iraq," according to the letter. |
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