ABU DHABI Ñ Saudi Arabia and the United States held their first military cooperation talks since September 11 as Saudi officials warned its two million
non-Muslims that they risk arrest and expulsion if they violate the fast
of Ramadan, which begins later this week.
The United States did not ask for assistance in any military campaign against the Saddam Hussein regime, and Saudi Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Saleh Al Muhaya said the kingdom would not allow the United States to launch any
attack against Baghdad from Saudi air space and territory.
The Ramadan ban imposed by Saudi
authorities included that of eating, drinking or smoking in public during
the fast day. Muslims fast from the early morning until nightfall.
But Interior Minister Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz urged religious police
to be lenient toward violators, Middle East Newsline reported. Nayef, in a rare visit to the headquarters
of the religious police, told them to stop prying on people.
The talks of the military cooperation panel were headed by the chiefs of
staff of Saudi Arabia and the United States and took place in Riyad.
Officials said this was the first such meeting in two years.
"The talks, headed by U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Richard Myers and
Saudi Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Saleh Al Muhaya Ñ focused on a work schedule
for 2003 that would include joint exercises, training and technical
programs," a Gulf defense source said. "The key issue was that the meeting
took place at all amid this period of tense U.S.-Saudi relations."
Saudi Arabia and the United States did not conduct military cooperation
talks last year. Such a meeting was scheduled for Washington in August 2001.
But the Saudis cancelled the meeting to protest U.S. support for Israel amid
its war against the Palestinians.
Al Muhaya said there would be no reduction in the U.S.-Saudi military
relationship. But he said the military cooperation talks did not include any
discussion of a U.S.-led war against Iraq.
The Saudi military chief said Myers did not ask ask for Saudi help in
any military campaign against the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Al Muhaya said the kingdom would not allow the United States to launch any
attack against Baghdad from Saudi air space and territory.
Gulf defense sources said Saudi Arabia had long resisted U.S. appeals to
maintain military cooperation talks. They said Crown Prince Abdullah Bin
Abdul Aziz agreed to the resumption of military talks during his visit to
the United States over the summer.
