US Envoy Dismisses Controversial Briefing on Saudi Arabia

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, August 08, 2002

US Envoy Dismisses Controversial Briefing on Saudi Arabia

US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Robert Jordan on Thursday dismissed a briefing prepared by a Pentagon advisory panel as imagination of one person, stressing that it does not reflect the official point of view of the US government.

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US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Thursday dismissed a briefing prepared by a Pentagon advisory panel as imagination of one person, stressing that it does not reflect the official point of view of the US government.

In a statement, quoted by Kuwait's official KUNA news agency, Jordan said all Pentagon officials disagreed with the briefing, which was prepared by the advisory panel on July 10 and published by the Washington Post on Tuesday.

The briefing described Saudi Arabia as "an enemy of the United States" and accused Riyadh of supporting terrorism.

The briefing also called for seizing Saudi oil installations, assets and external investments if Riyadh fails to heed Washington's terms to stop support for Islamic organizations worldwide.

The US ambassador urged the the two countries to overcome this briefing and mend the differences between them through diplomatic channels in a bid to maintain the outstanding relations.

He also denied that his country is launching an organized media campaign against Saudi Arabia, despite criticism by some Congress members and media of the US-Saudi relations.

Most of the criticism is based on lack of correct information, said the ambassador.

He reassured the kingdom that it remains a historic ally of the United States.

The United States appreciates the Saudi cooperation with the international campaign to combat terrorism, he said, adding that the two countries have joint interests.

Earlier in the day, the Saudi Press Agency reported that US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld called his Saudi counterpart Sultan Ibn Abdul-Aziz, expressing his personal anger and the anger of the Pentagon towards the briefing.

The official media also said that during the call, the two leaders also discussed bilateral relations and means to further improve them.

On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Colin Powell also called SaudiForeign Minister Saud Al-Faisal to assure him that the briefing does not reflect the US policy and has left a "harmful" misimpression.

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