JEDDAH: Outgoing US Ambassador Ford Fraker said yesterday that American relations with Saudi Arabia had received a “great boost” during the past few years. “The strength of growing relationship is evident from the fact that in a span of few months former US President George W. Bush visited the Kingdom twice during his presidency,” he said while speaking at a farewell reception hosted by the local business community headed by Abdul Khaliq Saeed at the Jeddah Hilton. A number of officials, diplomats and business leaders including members of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry were among those present.
Ambassador Mohammed Ahmed Tayyeb, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Makkah Region, the guest of honor, said Fraker had made a mark in both banking and diplomacy. “I don’t want to say good bye to you because I am sure you will continue to visit the Kingdom — your second home,” Tayyeb added.
There have been a number of major agreements during Fraker’s ambassadorial tenure including those related to science and technology, and visa reciprocity. Saudi nationals can now get a US visa for five years and the Kingdom reciprocates the same for US nationals, Fraker said.
“With my business and banking experience, I hope to be a regular visitor to the Kingdom in future,” said Fraker who assumed charge in Riyadh following his appointment by the Bush administration on April 11, 2007. In a recent communication, US President Barack Obama asked Fraker to continue serving as ambassador to the Kingdom until next month.
“It has been a privilege to serve as ambassador to the Kingdom,” said Fraker who first traveled to Jeddah soon after assuming charge in Riyadh on May 20, 2007. Fraker’s first visit to the “Bride of the Red Sea” occurred over 30 years ago when he was a young banker living in Lebanon. He expressed his happiness at being able to revisit Jeddah now and looks forward to returning soon with his keen interest in business and banking.