RIYADH, 6 February 2004 — The newly-appointed US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, James C. Oberwetter, arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday and will present his credentials to the government shortly, according to the US Embassy. He will present them to Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal shortly after the Eid holiday, the embassy has said.
“The incoming envoy will convey these credentials to the Saudi chief of state in a formal ceremony at a later date.”
Oberwetter, a Texas oil industry lobbyist with close ties to US President George W. Bush’s family, was sworn in at a ceremony in Washington on Jan. 8 after being nominated by Bush in November to replace Robert Jordan. The former envoy left October, citing personal reasons.
The new ambassador previously served as senior vice president in charge of governmental and political affairs with Hunt Oil. He also held a post with the American Petroleum Institute, the main oil industry lobby in Washington.
Prior to joining Hunt Oil, he worked at the US Environmental Protection Agency after serving as press secretary to then-US Congressman George Bush, former president and father of the current president.
When the elder Bush was elected president in 1988, Oberwetter worked as a member of his transition team in Washington.
