JEDDAH, 14 April 2006 — Crown Prince Sultan yesterday reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s unwavering support to Palestinians and said the victory of Hamas in January parliamentary elections would not affect this historic stand.
“We believe that Hamas is part of the Palestinian people and we’ll not differentiate between Hamas and others. They are all our brothers and friends,” he said.
Speaking to Japan’s NHK Television, Sultan also emphasized the Kingdom’s strong relations with the United States, saying it is a relationship of equals. “The talk that the United States, its President George W. Bush and others are against Saudi Arabia is not true,” he said, adding that some people were trying to damage Saudi-American relations.
In his wide-ranging interview with the network, which was also broadcast by Saudi television, the crown prince said there was no change in the Kingdom’s standing policy of establishing good relations with all countries that deal with it cordially.
“There is no change in this policy,” he asserted when asked whether the recent visits of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to Asian countries as well as his present Asian tour represented any change in the Kingdom’s policy.
Sultan, who began his current Asian tour last week by visiting Japan, expressed his satisfaction over the distinguished relations between Riyadh and Tokyo.
“Our relations with Japan are constructive and it aims at enhancing cooperation in scientific and technological areas. We also support Japan by supplying its energy needs,” he said.
Sultan spoke highly about the Kingdom’s security forces for their courageous efforts in confronting Al-Qaeda militants. He said Saudi security forces had dealt with the Feb. 24 attackers of the Al-Abqaiq oil refinery in a highly professional manner.
“By the grace of God, they were able to protect the petroleum sites and were able to complete the operation within two hours. We have arrested the aggressors without causing any harm to the refinery in Abqaiq and other petroleum facilities,” he said.
“All powers are with God, we as human beings, will do whatever we can to protect our country and people,” the crown prince said when asked whether Saudi Arabia has adequate capabilities to contain Al-Qaeda militants blamed for a series of terrorist bombings and shootings across the country since May 2003.
“Such incidents can take place anywhere in the world,” he said about the Abqaiq attack.
“We have seen much worse attacks in other parts of the world, claiming lives of hundreds of people,” he pointed out. “We have arrested 42 people in connection with the Abqaiq attack.”
He also disclosed that the Kingdom was holding a number of prisoners for committing violations against Islam and the country. “Some of them were paid by foreign agents while others were propagating distorted ideas,” he said, adding that they will be tried in a civilian court.
Speaking about international oil market, Sultan said Saudi Arabia did not favor high oil prices. He referred to the government’s efforts to stabilize prices by increasing production to nearly 12 million barrels per day. He said Saudi Arabia had nothing to do with soaring oil prices.
“It’s not in our hand,” he said putting the blame on other market forces. The crown prince, however, believed that the prices would not continue to rise. “Prices at reasonable levels are good for both producers and consumers,” he pointed out.
He spoke about the Kingdom’s historic stand on the Palestinian issue since the time of King Abdul Aziz and said it was an issue related to restoring Palestinians their land and repatriation of refugees.
“The Hamas victory has not changed Saudi Arabia’s position on the issue. It was the result of free elections called by major countries. The world should now accept the results of the elections respecting the verdict of the Palestinian people,” he said.
The crown prince also expressed his opposition to the denial of financial aid to the Palestinian people as they included the poor, the elderly and the needy. He said Saudi Arabia has been extending direct assistance to the Palestinians.
“We are also hosting some 300,000 Palestinian citizens. We have opened our schools and universities to them. We have also opened our hospitals to treat Palestinians at the state’s expense. They are also given the right to invest and work and enter into partnership with Saudis.
“In addition to that, we support them through the Palestinian Fund, which was proposed by King Abdullah. We have been contributing to this fund and we request other Arab countries to do the same,” he said.
He said the Kingdom did not want to give a detailed report of its assistance to the Palestinians. “You should ask Palestinians to know more about the Kingdom’s political and financial support,” he told the interviewer.
Sultan highlighted the tremendous progress made by Saudi Arabia within a short span. “We have done what others did in 50 or 60 years of independence. During the past 70 years we have made tremendous achievements in terms of establishing universities and colleges, building other infrastructure projects and setting rules and regulations required for the welfare and security of our people,” he explained.
Sultan invited the Japanese woman interviewer to visit the Kingdom and see for herself the developments it has achieved and meet Saudi women at universities, hospitals and other workplaces.
“You can also see the progress achieved in trade, construction and other areas,” the crown prince said.
