RIYADH, 31 May 2004 — Senior European diplomats will hold a meeting tomorrow to discuss the security situation in Saudi Arabia and assess measures in place to protect their citizens across the Kingdom.
This will be followed by another meeting of the EU ambassadors to be convened by the Irish Embassy on June 6, in which the subject of security will top the agenda.
Western diplomats told Arab News yesterday that the meetings will also review the security situation in the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, where most of the Western countries have their diplomatic missions.
Security has already been stepped up in and around the Diplomatic Quarter and a visitor must pass through a labyrinth of checkpoints and concrete barriers under the watchful eyes of soldiers perched atop armored personnel carriers.
Many European ambassadors have sent staff to meet their nationals in Alkhobar and to assess security following the shooting and hostage drama. Among them is Italian Ambassador Armando Sanguini, who confirmed that Italian citizen Antonio Amato was killed in the attack.
Spanish Ambassador Ramon Ansuoain said though no Spaniards were caught up in the Alkhobar attacks, Spanish nationals had been told “to be more vigilant”.
The Embassy of the Netherlands was not available to comment on reports that three Dutch nationals were freed after being taken hostage and are leaving the Kingdom.
“A Belgian family living in the Oasis Compound in Alkhobar are leaving for good after working for several years in the Kingdom,” said P. Deboek, deputy chief of mission at the Belgian Embassy.
Canadian Embassy spokesman Yves Duval said an officer of the Canadian mission will meet the wardens in the Eastern Province to assess the situation there. The German Embassy was closed yesterday. The reason was not immediately known.
The Swedish Embassy has not yet confirmed the death of a Swede at the Oasis Compound. Ambassador Ake Karlsson yesterday traveled to Alkhobar to investigate.
