Saudi Arabia clarifies oil policy toward South Africa

Saudi Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector-General, has expressed regrets over reports in a section of the press that the kingdom was seeking to replace Iran as sole supplier of oil to South Africa. He stated that petroleum was not a field of competition between the two countries. He said, however, that the kingdom had been providing South Africa with petroleum for a long time.

In an interview with Al-Ahram Al-Alarabi magazine today, Prince Sultan explained that the kingdom and South Africa began oil cooperation at the time a democratic political system was established there.

Regarding reports on cooperation between SAudi Arabia and South Africa in the field of manufacturing military equipment, Prince Sultan recalled the visit of South Africa's defense minister to the kingdom, where he visited Saudi military factories. Prince Sultan indicated that military experts from the kingdom will visit South Africa to see the factories there and explore ways of cooperation in this field.

He termed the relations between Saudi Arabia and South Africa as very good, adding that they would be enhanced further.