RIYADH, 22 June 2005 — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday that Saudis at US airports were not being singled out or targeted for interrogation by FBI agents or immigration officials. She said that such incidents, if they did happen, were not intentional and that immigration officials and security personnel would undergo additional training. Rice said she encouraged more Saudi students and tourists to come to the United States.
She also pointed out that since the Sept. 11 attacks, a new security system had been put in place and that Americans themselves often have difficulties at airports. She explained that one of the problems in the US is that it has always been a very decentralized system. She said some of her American friends complain of more security searches at airports and they too have to understand that the system has changed.
“It is not just because you are from Saudi Arabia that you sometimes find it difficult to get through our airports. You can be from Denver and it may also be difficult to get through our airports.”
Rice said that if any incidents did occur, they should be reported to the US ambassador who would investigate. “I am certain that nothing is systematic. People are told that they should treat everybody very well.”
Pertaining to Saudi-American relations, she said she was surprised to learn that so many of the Kingdom’s ministers had graduated from US universities, including one who graduated from the University of Denver of which she is an alumna.
Those participating in a question-and-answer session with Rice felt that if the US were serious about wanting Saudi tourists and students in the US, something should be done about the long lines of people waiting outside the US Embassy and consulates in order to get visas. US Ambassador to the Kingdom James Oberwetter said that that was not a problem confined to Saudi Arabia. He said that part of the problem was that many people are now once again choosing to visit or study in the US and that they should realize that there are new procedures to be followed. “It used to be a very easy thing and we learned a very hard lesson about that,’ he pointed out.
He also said the embassy in Riyadh was handling visa applications from the Eastern Province which has added to its already large workload. And a reduction in the number of staff had compounded this problem.
Asked about the recent discussions at President Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas and the establishment of the Saudi-US commission, Rice said: “Last night the foreign minister and I had a chance to speak about the agendas. First of all, we agreed that he and I would meet twice a year — once in Riyadh and once in Washington.” She also said there would be a committee of experts chaired by David Welsh on the US side.
Asked about the agendas, Rice said they “would be as broad as US-Saudi relations.” She explained that the first level of discussions would deal with regional issues such as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the problems in Iraq, the difficulties of creating a democratic and stable Iraq etc.
The second level would be related to counterterrorism as both nations are deeply involved and engaged in the fight against terror, Al-Qaeda and extremists.
The third level, she said, would be economic discussions. “Saudi Arabia is preparing to enter the World Trade Organization and the United States has been supportive of that. We have been trying to work with Saudi Arabia so that accession can take place.”
She went on to say: “We also hope to have discussions on oil. This is a time of extremely high oil prices and we recognize that Saudi Arabia is trying to be a responsible producer so that the international economy does not suffer. We noted at Crawford that a decision was taken to increase capacity for the long term.”
The fourth and final level would deal with a number of bilateral issues. One of the issues she mentioned at this point was the course of reform in Saudi Arabia. She said that this was an issue which was important to the US president “who is a man of conviction about the need for greater openness in political life and the need to have all citizens participating in political life.” She added that from time to time other issues such as religious freedom might form part of the reform agenda.
Rice said that all four areas would be included in the twice yearly meetings with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal. She said the first meeting would most likely take place in Washington in September.
Answering a question on apparent US hesitation to deal with Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, especially after it was proven that he planned to assassinate Crown Prince Abdullah, Rice said the US was dealing with the Libyans. She said that despite Washington welcoming Libya’s decision not to develop weapons of mass destruction, “Libya is still on the US terrorist list and will remain there until a number of issues have been cleared up to our satisfaction.” She emphasized the importance of what Libya had done and said that it should not be underestimated. She said the US continues to seek more commitments from Libya.
Asked about possible US reactions should extremists win elections in the Middle East and so become legitimate government officials, Rice said she did not know who would win in a completely free and fair election.
“When we talk about reforms, we talk a great deal about elections, but we must also talk about creating the institutions of civil society and of the broad development of rights for the greatest number of people. On that basis, you hold elections and it is not at all evident to me that the extremists would win.”
She said it was important to know what the extremists would do if they were “elected.” She said that in fact, if one could go out and campaign for office freely and fairly, it would be interesting to know who would support those whose platforms included killing innocent people, taking away people’s rights, sending children to die as suicide bombers or crashing airplanes into buildings.
“In some societies, extremists can hide. They can be the cause of suicide bombings and the deaths of innocent people. There is no one to hold them accountable. They go on television masked, as in Iraq, saying that they are going to kill people. And there is nothing in the political system that can deal with that,” Rice added.
