ABU DHABI Ñ Western diplomatic sources said U.S. authorities refused entry to 60
Saudi students who were accepted in universities in the United States under
a program by Saudi Aramco.
The Kuwaiti Al Rai Al Aam daily reported on Monday that Aramco, responsible for the marketing of Saudi oil,
is expected to seek alternatives to U.S. universities. They could include
the American University in Cairo or the American University in Beirut.
The newspaper said the U.S. rejection of the Saudi students would be
raised by Saudi ambassador Prince Bandar Bin Sultan in Washington. Bandar is
scheduled to meet President George Bush on Tuesday in an attempt to improve
bilateral relations.
Despite these and other tensions which have been increasing, Saudi Arabia intends to
maintain defense relations with the United States, Middle East Newsline reported.
Gulf defense sources said the Saudi Defense Ministry has decided to
maintain a schedule of military visits and training programs scheduled with
the United States during 2002. The sources said Saudi Defense Minister
Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz has also approved talks to complete a
cooperation program for 2003.
"The Saudis don't want to highlight defense relations with the United
States," a Gulf defense source who monitors the kingdom said. "But they
don't want to sever defense ties or do anything that rules out their
improvement after any U.S. war against Iraq."
Last week, Prince Sultan received a U.S. military delegation and
discussed plans for U.S. training and exercises during 2003. The delegation
was led by Maj. Gen. Michael Faraj, who represents the the U.S. military
training mission in the kingdom.
Over the weekend, another U.S. military delegation from the Central
Command met with Saudi Chief of Staff Gen. Saleh Bin Ali Al Muhaya. A Saudi
government statement said the two sides discussed improving relations and
other issues.
On Tuesday, President George Bush is scheduled to meet Saudi ambassador
Prince Bandar Bin Sultan at Bush's ranch in Texas in a discussion that is
expected to be dominated by Iraq and bilateral relations. Bandar is expected
to deliver a message from Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz.
"This is an important meeting and will bring Saudi-U.S. relations back
to normal," the Riyad daily Okaz, quoting a senior U.S. administration
source, said. "They will discuss four major topics: bilateral relations, war
on Iraq, the Palestine issue and the fight against terrorism."
The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that leading Saudi military
officials have agreed to visit Washington this fall to begin a series of
high-level talks. The talks were to have taken place over the summer but
Riyad cancelled at the last minute.
The newspaper said the Saudi military is a hollow shell and badly in
need of help.
Saudi officials as well as the government-controlled press have
acknowledged increasing tensions with the United States. They confirmed a
report that Saudi Arabia has withdrawn $200 billions of deposits from the
United States over
the last few months, but cite financial rather than political motives.
A high-ranking official of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency confirmed
that $200 billion have been withdrawn
by Saudi businessmen from the United States. But he denied that the money
has been deposited in Saudi banks.
