Prince Saud Alfaisal press briefing: Israel linked to terror attacks against
Saudia Arabia
www.spa.gov.sa/html/archive_e.asp?srcfile=637544&NDay=04/05/2004&wcatg=0

Jeddah, May 4, SPA-- Prince Saud Alfaisal, the Foreign Minister, held here
today the periodic press briefing of the Foreign Ministry and answered
reporters' questions.

Prince Saud began his briefing with a statement in which he paid condolences
to families of the victims of recent terrorist acts which occurred in the
kingdom.

He stressed Saudi resolve to deal with terrorists with an iron fist. He
thanked all countries that expressed support for the kingdom.

On Iraq, he called for swiftly and genuinely transferring sovereignty to the
Iraqis, underlining the importance of United Nations' involvement in the
transitional period.

Prince Saud urged the occupation authority in Iraq to put an end to the
horrible violations of the rights of Iraqi prisoners and punish those
responsible for them.

As regards the Palestinian issue, the Kingdom looked forward to the next
meeting of the International Quartet Committee to resume the initiative and
present positive ideas to revive peace process in accordance with the Road
Map and its references and to enforce Israel to live up to its pledges
towards the initiative based on the international legitimacy rules, United
Nations Security Council's resolutions Nos. 242 and 338 and the principle of
land for peace endorsed in Madrid conference.

Prince Saud emphasized the importance of providing protection for the
Palestinians against Israeli aggressive practices through the disengagement
of the two parties by deploying international forces under the umbrella of
the United Nations or as it is the case in other areas of conflicts in the
world.

On the latest stand of Likud party, Prince Saud said that it proves that
Israeli government policy aims at annexing more Palestinian territories,
displacing the people and imposing the so-called new facts on land.

These developments of concern at the Iraqi and Palestinian arenas
necessitate the utilization of all efforts and capabilities to confront
these very dangerous challenges that storm our region. We hope that the
forthcoming Arab Summit will widely discuss all these matters.

In response to a question on the remarks made by Crown Prince Abdullah early
this week linking the terrorist attacks in the Kingdom with the support of
international Zionism, Prince Saud said no doubt that Zionist extremist
agents spreading in the world are busy launching a fierce campaign against
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

It is no secret that the Saudi exiled opponents Almasaari and Alfaqih, with
whom the leader of the latest attack had strong links according to the
Ministry of Interior's statement, are even financed by Israeli associate
parties, Prince Saud said, adding that the remarks of Crown Prince Abdullah
came in this context.

Asked to explain whether the Kingdom holds the Reformation Movement
responsible of Yanbu terrorist attack and might request the extradition of
its London-based leaders: Almasaari and Alfaqih, Prince Saud referred the
questioner to his statement at the opening of this conference.

Asked whether the Kingdom would follow suit to warn its citizens from
traveling to the U.S., the Minister of Foreign Affairs said it is the right
of any country to advise its citizens about travel circumstances from its
own point of view. In this regard, he said everybody knows that security
measures to protect visitors and expatriates in the Kingdom are as tightened
as those provided for the protection of its own citizens. He said these
measures are considered among the best in the world.

Prince Saud said the kingdom is doing all it can to protect all expatriates.
He hoped that this will convince the US and Britain that their citizens are
safe in the kingdom. He noted that citizens from those two countries
expressed confidence in the measures taken and stated their desire to stay
despite the warnings.

On Israeli nuclear weapons, Prince Saud reiterated the Arab position
demanding making the region free from weapons of mass destruction.

He noted that despite strict dealing with other countries concerning this
issue, Israel's possession of weapons of mass destruction is overlooked.
Prince Saud hoped that a visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency
chief Mohammad Albaradea to Israel will underscore the danger posed by
Israel's possession of nuclear weapons.

--MORE 2122 Local Time 1822 GMT