RIYADH, 1 July — Saudi businessmen and traders have expressed their anguish and shock over the new measures proposed by the US Justice Department targeting Saudis and warned that they would harm Saudi-American relations.
They were commenting on a new immigration law announced by the US Justice Department which requires of foreign visitors to register their names with the government if they intended to stay 30 days or more.
The new law also allows US authorities to take fingerprints of foreigners, who do not possess permanent resident permits, soon after their arrival in the country.
Abdullah Zainal Alireza, chairman of the Saudi Committee for Promoting International Trade at the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, disclosed that business delegations would be sent to the US to explain Saudi Arabia’s viewpoints on Washington’s new move.
Alireza told Arab News that the proposed measures had sent shockwaves among Saudi businessmen and traders despite the clarification given by the US attorney general that the steps would be implemented only on countries that supported terrorism.
Alireza objected to taking selective measures against Saudis visiting the United States. “This will only increase the isolation between peoples of the two countries and harm the interests of the two sides.
“It is the right of the United States to protect the security of the country and its citizens by taking the necessary steps... But the proposed measures will harm Saudi visitors to the US and we would like to know the opinion of US businessmen on this measure,” he added.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Bunyan, executive director of the Saudi-American Business Council, highlighted the danger posed by the measures to business relations between the two countries.
However, he pointed out that it was better not to make any speculation before the US government took a decision on implementing the measures.
“It’s the right of every country to take necessary measures to protect its interests and the security of its citizens. But it is not acceptable to target Saudi Arabia by adopting such measures,” he added.
He deplored the anti-Saudi media campaign by certain quarters in the US and said the business council was concerned about the issue.
Dr. Farhat Farhat, an expert on World Trade Organization, said the new measures were likely to affect Saudi businessmen.
“US businessmen know the importance of the Saudi market for their exports and I am sure they will say their word if the bill was passed for execution.”
Dr. Abdul Aziz Daghestani, director general of the Economic Studies House in Riyadh, said the new steps would amount to the US government joining hands with its media in targeting Saudi citizens through selective measures.
“This is not at all acceptable and Saudi Arabia should retaliate by taking similar measures,” he added.
