Saudi Arabia Warns US on Mideast Policy

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, April 26, 2002

Saudi Arabia Warns US on Mideast Policy

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz warned US President George W. Bush on Thursday about the risks the United States faces if it continues with a Middle East policy widely perceived in the Arab world as favoring Israel, a senior Saudi official said.

Abdullah and Bush met for about five hours at Bush's ranch in Crowford, Texas, two hours longer than the original plan.

Adel Al-Jubeir, a foreign policy adviser to the Saudi government, told reporters Abdullah had warned Bush about the direction of U.S. policy in the Middle East.

"The crown prince speaks directly, he is sincere and he doesn'tmince words," Al-Jubeir said. "The message is, if the violence doenot diminish, there will be grave consequences for the U.S. and its interests in the region."

Al-Jubeir said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon must withdraw Israeli troops from Palestinian cities and towns, end thesieges of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at Ramallah and around the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and submit to a swift U.N.fact-finding mission in Jenin.

Bush on Thursday urged Israel to finish its troop withdrawal from Palestinian lands and seek a "non-violent" solution to armed standoffs in Ramallah and Bethlehem.

"Israel must finish its withdrawal," Bush said after the long meeting with the Saudi leader. "I made it clear to him I expected Israel to withdraw. ... I expect them to be finished."

Bush said that he and Crown Prince Abdullah had forged a "strong personal bond" through the talks, which was dominated by the Israeli-Palestinian crisis.

"One of the really positive things out of this meeting is the fact the crown prince and I established a strong personal bond," Bush said.

The two sides discussed next steps in implementing a Saudi peace plan which was endorsed by the Arab league, Bush said, describing the plan as "a breakthrough" in defusing the Mideast crisis. The crown prince left the ranch in Crowford without speaking to reporters.

Saudi Arabia recently complained that the Bush administration'ssupport of Israel had damaged prospects for the Middle East peace process and soured relations with the Arab world.

According to Bush, Crown Prince Abdullah promised during the meeting that the country will not support any broadening of Iraq'soil embargo to include other angry Arab states.

"Saudi Arabia made it clear and made it clear publicly that they will not use oil as a weapon and I appreciate that, respect that and expect that to be the case," Bush said.

Bush Urges Israel to Complete Troop Withdrawal

US President George W. Bush on Thursday urged Israel to finish its troop withdrawal from the Palestinian territories and seek a "non-violent" solution to armedstandoffs in Ramallah and Bethlehem.

"Israel must finish its withdrawal," Bush said after a long meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz at his Texas ranch.

"I made it clear to him I expected Israel to withdraw. ... I expect them to be finished,'' Bush said.

The talks began in the morning and lasted about five hours, twohours longer than original plans, according to the White House.

Bush said that he and Crown Prince Abdullah had forged a "strong personal bond" through the talks, which was dominated by the Israeli-Palestinian crisis.

"One of the really positive things out of this meeting is the fact the crown prince and I established a strong personal bond," Bush said.

The two sides discussed next steps in implementing a Saudi peace plan which was endorsed by the Arab League, Bush said, describing the plan as "a breakthrough" in solving the Middle Eastcrisis.

The crown prince left the ranch in Crowford without speaking toreporters.

Saudi Arabia recently complained that the Bush administration'ssupport of Israel had damaged prospects for the Middle East peace process and soured relations with the Arab world.

According to Bush, Crown Prince Abdullah promised during the meeting that the country will not support any broadening of Iraq'soil embargo to include other angry Arab states.

"Saudi Arabia made it clear and made it clear publicly that they will not use oil as a weapon and I appreciate that, respect that and expect that to be the case," Bush said.

Questions?Comments? Click here

>> Full Coverage

Know Who to Love, Who to Hate ( 13 Messages)

China Expresses Strong Dissatisfaction over Japanese PM's Shrine Visit ( 47 Messages)

China's Economy to Grow Above Six Percent ( 51 Messages)

China to Open up US$1.5 Trillion Trade Market in Five Years: Vice President ( 3 Messages)

Protests Prompt Retailer to Pull T-shirts Mocking Chinese-Americans ( 105 Messages)