RIYADH: Ford M. Fraker, the outgoing American ambassador, said at a reception that there was an urgent need to make genuine efforts to find common grounds and “work past differences in culture, religion, ethnicity and even ideology.”
“Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah continues to lead the way by extending his hand of tolerance and mutual respect to people of different creeds,” said Fraker, during the reception. The US diplomat was speaking during a glittering reception hosted by him at Quincy House here in Diplomatic Quarters. The occasion was to mark the US national day. On behalf of the Saudi government, Prince Sattam, vice governor of Riyadh province, attended the event as chief guest. “We must not succumb to polarizing viewpoints that have traditionally separated nations,” said Fraker.
David H. Rundell, deputy chief of mission, said that the Kingdom and the United States have forged closer ties, pointing out that 70 percent of the Saudi applicants had been receiving visas within one week from the date of applications’ submission. He also pointed out that the US Consulate General in Jeddah has already resumed partial non-immigrant visa services and the consulate will return to full visa services in 2010.
