JEDDAH, 12 December — Saudi Arabia’s relations with the United States remain excellent after the Sept. 11 terror attacks despite attempts by some people in the US media to undermine them, Prince Bandar ibn Sultan, the Kingdom’s ambassador in Washington, said yesterday.
“US-Saudi relations are strong and based on mutual respect and common interests ... Most of the talk about maltreatment (of Saudis in the United States) is rumors and exaggeration,” Prince Bandar told Saudi Press Agency.
“Coordination with the US administration is more than good, and (Saudi leaders) are surprised that the American media does not want to accept assurances by the president and secretary of state that relations are strong,” he added.
“This is an indication that there are people who do not wish US-Saudi relations to remain strong,” because such relations are used to serve Arab and Islamic causes, said the prince, who is currently in Makkah.
The Kingdom has been a target of smear campaign by US media, which accused it of promoting extremism and being soft on terrorism.
Riyadh has refuted such accusations and charged this was part of a campaign against Islam and Muslims.
Prince Bandar said that before Sept. 11 Saudis were given special treatment by the United States, but they are now being treated like everyone else.
Meanwhile, former US Ambassador Wyche Fowler has denied any hate campaign against the United States in the Kingdom.
Speaking on a CNN talk show Monday night, Fowler said the Kingdom itself was a victim of terrorist attacks. He dismissed charges that the Kingdom was spreading anti-American feelings in the Muslim world by financing religious schools.
