RIYADH, 4 November — A senior US official and the US ambassador to the Kingdom have called on the Saudi business community to renew their ties in mutual interest so that the bilateral trade is not affected in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 tragedy.
"Exaggerated fears on both sides are causing us to lock ourselves up. We can’t hide under the mattress. The entire world suffered from the shock of Sept. 11. But business must go on," US Ambassador Robert Jordan told reporters at a press conference held on the occasion of a visit by US Assistant Secretary of Commerce William Lash, III.
Lash spoke in a similar vein when he said: "I am here to demonstrate the value of our friendship with the Kingdom and the importance to the fact that we keep traveling and interacting with one another, particularly in trade and commerce, for our mutual benefit."
Lash and his accompanying delegation were in the Kingdom on a one-day visit during which they held talks with Minister of Commerce Dr. Osama Faqeeh, and other officials.
During the talks both sides underlined their close relations and stressed the need for forging ahead despite the events set in motion by the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington. Lash left for Dubai later in the day.
The US officials sought to encourage the Saudis to visit the US following a sharp drop in the number of Saudi travelers to the country.
"Before Sept. 11, we used to receive around 20-25 visa applications from Saudis every day. However, since Sept. 11, we have handled just around 50 visa applications in all," Musarrat Hussain, general manager of Minhal Travel Services, one of the US Embassy-designated travel agents, told Arab News.
Asked about reports of Saudis being grilled at US airports, Lash said all visitors are subjected to the same level of scrutiny irrespective of their religion or nationality.
"Even Americans have the same experience," Ambassador Jordan observed. "I went through a hand-screening process. My whole baggage was searched thoroughly, making repacking a difficult task."
The ambassador said he would personally take up the matter with the law-enforcement authorities in the US "when the opportunity arises to make sure that things are handled smoothly and that all Saudis get the highest level of courtesy and reception in the US. A lot of people are nervous right now given the security issues that have come out."
Pointing out that Saudi-American relations are strong enough to overcome any challenges, Lash said: "Even as I am visiting your country, a trade delegation from Saudi Arabia is already in the US to participate in a trade conference sponsored by the auto parts industry in Las Vegas. "
He said US President George W. Bush is encouraging American children to reach out to the Muslims as pen pals in the Islamic world. "The idea is to get to know Islam better".
He said there was a 10 percent growth in the bilateral trade in the first half of this year. "Our trade with the entire region of the Middle East was up by 22 percent in the first eight months of this year."
Replying to a question on the implications of economic recession in the US and its impact on the Saudi-US trade relations, Lash said obviously "there will be an economic slowdown and insurance rates for shipping will go up. This will increase the prices of goods."
