US, Saudi Arabia discuss early warning system
Saudi Arabia-USA, Military, 4/11/2000

U.S.Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen spoke on Sunday on US - Saudi relations and was joined by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz in Jeddah.

Both officials stressed that no points of friction exist in US - Saudi relations. Here follows are some of the questions and answer of their press briefing.

Q: We have heard the reports from the London newspapers about reductions of American forces in the Kingdom. We would like to know how true are these reports.

Prince Sultan: First of all, the troops which have been in Saudi Arabia since the end of Desert Storm are within the frame of United Nations assignments and directions to continue the surveillance of Southern Iraq, and also the border of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, as well as the other GCC countries. And these troops are doing their duties to protect peace only, and not to for aggression. Anything else that is said is not correct.

Q: Your Royal Highness, the Secretary has said that a goal of his visit is to establish an early warning system among the GCC states. What is the position of Saudi Arabia vis-a-vis these American proposals.

Prince Sultan: This issue has been discussed with a number of GCC countries. We hope there will be a joint meeting of the GCC countries to study this proposal which is a constructive one that aids the cause of peace. Whatever the GCC states decide will, of course, be appreciated by us.

Q: You said in Manama two days ago that the Gulf countries are preparing a project to prepare the GCC countries in order to face any chemical and biological warfare that might happen in the region, which could harm a large number of people, which you call a war crisis. Is this preparation meant for a particular country in the Gulf, for example Iran or Iraq? What is the significance of the timing of this?

Secretary Cohen: There is no particular sense of timing to this issue. I have been talking about this for several years and I have been talking about it because we have seen evidence that the spread of chemical and biological weapons continues. We are preparing in our own country our citizenry to face such a prospect in the future and to prepare to defend against it and to manage the consequence should any chemical or biological agent ever be used against American citizens on American soil. We think it is important also, because of the presence of chemical and biological capability in the region, that all of the Gulf States at least try to take whatever reasonable, responsible measures that can be taken to protect their military and to protect their citizens against any potential use. This is normal, prudent planning, and something that I believe our defense establishments are required to take.

Q: I would like to ask about the peninsula shield forces in the GCC and your ambitions with your fellow leaders in this regard. What are the obstacles facing the modernization of the peninsula shield forces... and what is the update about the shape of the peninsula shield forces?

Prince Sultan: The peninsula shield force is like a kernel of the forces of the gulf states. It proved itself during Desert Storm. There were consultations and studies within the GCC countries about the modernization of the GCC forces and of course it is a force meant to be established for the preservation of peace and security and of course any detailed information or military information is not meant to be told to the public but this is going on in a very good manner.

Q: I'd like to know what you think it would take to get Iraq to accept weapons inspectors back into the country and to ease the atmosphere of confrontation there is now.

Prince Sultan: We are praying to God that the leadership of Iraq will comply with the Security Council resolution in this respect in order to salvage the Iraqi people from the burdens that they are suffering now.

Previous Stories:
  Saudi defense minister hails Cohen's tour   (4/10/2000)
  Yemeni official refuses US mediation on border demarcation with Saudi Arabia   (2/21/2000)
  U.S. and Saudi Arabia support 242 and 338 UN resolutions   (11/9/1999)
  US wants an Arab Gulf anti-missile defense system against Iraq and Iran   (10/14/1998)

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