“In addition to taking strong security steps to counter terror directly, the Kingdom adopted indirect measures to uproot terrorism by establishing a culture that does not permit the growth of terror in society,” Prince Turki, the former intelligence chief of the Kingdom, said Thursday during a speech at the University of South Florida. He also spoke to the Council of Foreign Relations in Tampa.

Prince Turki commended the strong campaign unleashed by the Kingdom to uproot terrorism and spread awareness on its dangers, the Saudi Press Agency reported Friday.

He reiterated the historic and strategic importance of US-Saudi relations but did not shy away from commenting on the ongoing differences between the two countries over the issues of Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other matters affecting the Middle East.

In his lecture, Prince Turki pointed out the threat posed to the Kingdom after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He said Saudi Arabia was the prime target of Al-Qaeda, more than the United States and other Western countries.

In a brief outline of the role of the Kingdom to establish peace and stability in the Middle East, the prince said Saudi Arabia has been attempting to help the Palestinian people regain their lost rights ever since the issue started emerging.

“The era of the 50s and 60s of the last century witnessed the calls of nationalism and socialism on the regional level, and the conflict of the Cold War on a global scale. During that period, Saudi Arabia called for Islamic solidarity and the establishment of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which currently includes 57 Islamic states and five observer states, including Russia. The OIC has become the largest international organization after the United Nations and plays an active role in serving the interests of Islamic countries,” the prince added.

The prince also highlighted the role of the Kingdom in the liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi occupation with the assistance of international forces.