Al-Faisal on the US accusation of support for terrorism: it is an insult and false
Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 7/30/2003

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister prince Saud al-Faisal has strongly criticized the "false accusations" against Saudi Arabia of having been involved in the attacks of September 11 against the US, based on predictions and "evil intentions" that have been stated in a US government report last week, in a 28- page chapter censured in the report which includes 900 pages.

Al-Faisal said in a meeting which lasted more than one hour with the American President George W. Bush and his main aides "we have nothing to hide. We do not seek a shield to protect us. We do not need this shield either," in reference to what was being alleged by some, in that the US government tried to protect the Saudi government in this report by hiding its alleged involvement in the attacks.

In a written statement he read to journalists after he had left the White House, the Saudi minister called for disclosing the content of these pages "because this will permit us to answer all accusations clearly and to rebuke any doubt on the actual role of the Kingdom in the war against terrorism." Al-Faisal said he had handed over Bush a message including these stances from the Saudi Crown Prince."

He added that Bush expressed "his understanding for the position of the crown prince and renewed his appreciation for our role in fighting terrorism." But al-Faisal indicated to what President Bush said publicly before the meeting on his rejection to publish the Saudi part of the report, noting "the President explained that disclosing the missing pages at this time will damage the operations ( against terrorism) and undermine the continued investigations."

After the Saudi minister finished his press conference, the White House announced that the American officials asked him that the Saudi authorities permit American investigators to interrogate the Saudi citizen Omar al-Bayoumi suspected to have links to two of the executors of September 11 attacks, and that al-Faisal approved the request.

Al-Faisal's meeting with Bush was attended by the Vice President Dick Cheney, the Secretary Of State Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and Eliot Abrams of the national security council.

Bush told journalists more than one hour before his meeting with Prince al-Faisal that disclosing the omitted pages of the report will "help the enemy " and damage the investigations and the source and methods of intelligence and might lead indirectly to helping terrorists.

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said earlier that the information relating to Saudi Arabia were not published because elements existed in this part that includes special information on ongoing investigations and details on operations and sensitive information and information on operational manners which may undermine national security. He indicated that the meeting between Bush and al-Faisal came at a request submitted by the Saudis last Friday, and that the US found great cooperation from Saudi Arabia in the investigation and that the kingdom is fighting strongly to contain al-Qaida organization.

Replying to a question if he feels disappointed over Bush's position on the omission of the 28 pages from the report, al-Faisal answered "no, we feel disappointed because they ( the omitted pages ) will not be published. However, we certainly understand the reasons behind not publishing them."

Previous Stories:
  Eight persons killed in armed clash in Saudi Arabia   (7/29/2003)
  Saudi, U.S. authorities work closely against al Qaeda   (7/26/2003)
  Al-Youm: Prince Nayef and al-Qaida organization   (7/24/2003)
  Saudi Arabia carries out a media campaign to improve its image in the USA   (6/11/2003)

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