RIYADH, 4 November 2004 — US Ambassador James C. Oberwetter said here yesterday that the new US administration will have high-level of interest in the Middle East, and the core US policy on a range of regional and international issues including the Middle East peace process and global energy situation will remain unchanged except for some minor changes.
Addressing newsmen early yesterday morning during an “Election Watch” event, Ambassador Oberwetter spoke about the energy supply situation and surging oil prices. He renewed the US pledge not to release its strategic oil reserves except in cases of emergency.
Referring to the unprecedented worldwide interest in US elections, Ambassador Oberwetter said: “This year’s presidential election has generated tremendous interest throughout the US, the Middle East including Saudi Arabia, and the rest of the world. I can honestly say that I have never seen such attention paid to a US presidential election.”
He also referred to the municipal elections scheduled to take place in the Kingdom early next year. “Saudi nationals will elect their municipal leaders early next year and we are pleased to see that. This step forward in obtaining public participation in an election process will lead to your votes becoming meaningful in the process of governance,” said the ambassador.
“At a point in not too distant future, the US president will visit the Middle East. Obviously it will depend on circumstances, but there is high-level of interest in the Middle East and high-level visits are occurring now,” he added.
