SAUDI GROK Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Abdullah’s Tour Expected to Ease Regional Tensions [Jul 29]
“Saudi politicians and experts have concurred that King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz’s regional tour will close Arab ranks and clear the atmosphere following a pledge he made at the Kuwait Arab summit in January 2009 calling for solidarity in the Arab world.. ..King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz visits Syria and Lebanon this week as part of a flurry of diplomatic efforts to contain a potentially explosive situation in Lebanon where there are growing fears of a new sectarian conflict. The Saudi monarch, who is also visiting Egypt and Jordan, is scheduled to meet with Syrian leader Bashar Al Assad today before heading to Beirut tomorrow for brief talks with Lebanese leaders..” [Complete Report]
Syria-Saudi Ties Not Washington’s Business: Syria [Jul 29]
“The Syrian government advised the United States Thursday against interfering with a visit by Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah to Damascus and said the two countries ‘know better’ how to stabilize the Middle East. Abdullah will hold talks with President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian capital before they travel together to Beirut on Friday to try to calm tension over a tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of Lebanese statesman Rafik al-Hariri. U.S. State department official Philip Crowley said on Wednesday Washington hoped Syria would play a constructive role in the region and would respond to the Saudi monarch’s concerns about Iranian ‘threats’ to Middle East stability. ‘Obviously, King Abdullah has played a significant leadership role in the region. So his prospective travel to Syria and to Lebanon is consistent with his search for peace,’..” [Complete Report]
Kingdom Ready to Expand Iraq Ties: Naif [Jul 29]
“Saudi Arabia is ready to cooperate with Iraq in all areas, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Minister Prince Naif said on Wednesday after holding talks with Iraqi Ambassador Ghanim Al-Jameeli. ‘We are very much concerned with the Iraqi people and we have been working for the protection of Iraq’s security and stability,’ Prince Naif said. He emphasized the Kingdom’s solid stand on Iraq, adding that Saudi Arabia works only for the goodness of the war-torn Arab country. ‘We are looking forward to the day when Iraq will be ruled by its people and there will not be any foreign presence,’ the minister said..” [Complete Report]
WWF Apologizes to Kingdom Over Vandalism [Jul 29]
“The environmental group WWF said Wednesday that it had apologized unreservedly after an employee vandalized Saudi Arabia’s conference nameplate at a UN climate meeting last month. WWF International acknowledged that the incident, which sparked an uproar at a meeting of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bonn, Germany on June 11, was gravely offensive to Saudi Arabia.. ..WWF said an employee of its British branch was involved in taking and distributing ‘offensive photographs’ featuring the official nameplate..” [Complete Report]
JPMorgan Will Open Full Saudi Arabian Branch in Emerging-Market Expansion [Jul 29]
“JPMorgan Chase & Co. plans to become the first U.S. bank to open a full-service commercial branch in Saudi Arabia this year, six years after Citigroup Inc. exited a venture in the world’s biggest oil exporter. The firm, building on an investment banking office, is adding services to attract more corporate and institutional customers, said Daniel Cotti, the New York-based bank’s executive for global trade services. It obtained a full commercial banking license from the Saudi government in 2005 and is now the only U.S. financial firm to hold one. The expansion is part of a plan to accelerate growth in emerging markets also including Asia, South America and Eastern Europe..” [Complete Report]
