SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Saudi Doubling Efforts to Heal Arab Rifts [Apr 28]
“Riyadh is doubling its efforts to heal rifts between Arab states, a senior Saudi source has told Gulf News. Indicative to this, the source pointed to the recent visit of Prince Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the King’s advisor to Damascus. Preferring anonymity, the source said the Saudi envoy discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. Saudi King Abdullah had reconciliation meetings with Syrians, Egyptians and Qataris on the sidelines of the Arab Economic Summit in Kuwait in January 2009. Saudi political analyst Fawaz Al Otaibi says the latest diplomatic efforts are very promising and that Saudi has a vital interest to achieve reconciliation between Syria and Egypt, as it will have a positive affect on reconciliation efforts between Hamas and Fatah..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Rights Group Chief Calls for Change in Sponsorship System [Apr 28]
“Dr Mufleh Rubai’aan Al Qah’tani, head of the National Society for Human Rights (NSRH), has called for the replacement of the sponsorship system in Saudi Arabia, which ‘has several shortcomings’. He, however, failed to elaborate. Dr Al Qah’tani said that any new system should promote a healthy relationship between employers and employees, adding that due to the present sponsorship system, skilled workers were reluctant to come to the kingdom. ‘These negatives aspects have tarnished the country’s image to a large extent, especially with regard to status of employees, according to reports of the International Labor Organisation,’.. ..Responding to the perception of many Saudis that the NSRH had adopted strange Western concepts in Saudi Arabia, Dr Al Qah’tani said that the concepts of human rights exist in the Quran and Sunnah, and that 90 per cent of the foreign culture on human rights was identical to the concepts of Islamic sharia..” [Complete Report]
SR1 Trillion Investment Offer Presented to US [Apr 28]
“The Saudi-American Business Opportunity Forum opens Wednesday in Chicago with the Kingdom’s representatives presenting a diverse selection of investment opportunities worth approximately SR1 trillion. Minister of Finance Ibrahim Al-Assaf and Ali Al-Naimi, the Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources, will be in attendance at the two-day event, organized by the Saudi chambers of commerce and the Saudi-American Business Council, along with a number of other notable figures from the US and the Kingdom’s business communities. The forum, which will see the signing of five main agreements in addition to sub-agreements, will focus on small to intermediate-scale sectors, technology transfer, and the exchange of job opportunities.. ..Trade exchange between Saudi Arabia and the US stood at SR193.3 billion in 2008, and direct US exports to the Kingdom are projected to rise to SR63 billion in 2010..” [Complete Report]
Kingdom’s Embassy in Sana’a Steps Up Security [Apr 28]
“The Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Yemen has said that security has been stepped up following Monday’s failed suicide attack on the British ambassador Timothy Torlot in the capital Sana’a. Speaking to Okaz by telephone Tuesday, Ali Al-Hamdan, the Saudi ambassador, said that Yemeni authorities had put in place strict security measures for the Saudi mission, while staff have been asked to be cautious and restrict their movements.. ..analysts described the attack as possibly signaling a return by Al-Qaeda to the targeting of western diplomats in Yemen. They said they expected the terrorist organization to announce its responsibility for the attack within the next few days..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Arabia Leaves May LPG Prices Unchanged to Spur Demand [Apr 28]
“Saudi Arabian Oil Co., the largest supplier of liquefied petroleum gas to Asia, left prices for cargoes loading in May unchanged to spur demand. Saudi Aramco, as the state-owned company is known, kept its price for propane supplies at $725 a metric ton, said an official who asked not to be identified, citing company policy. The Dhahran-based producer left butane levels unchanged for a second month, at $715 a ton. Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest crude oil exporter, sells LPG under one-year term contracts and in cargoes for immediate delivery. Supplies are sold free-on-board, requiring buyers to pay for the cost of shipping..” [Complete Report]
Citigroup Applying to Open Office in Kingdom [Apr 28]
“Citigroup Inc., the New York-based bank that sold its 20 percent stake in a Saudi Arabian lender six years ago, is applying to open an office in the Kingdom, shareholder Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal said. Saudi Arabia welcomes the presence of a Citibank office here, Alwaleed, who owned 218 million shares in the bank as of November 2008, said on Tuesday in an interview with Bloomberg Television. The bank sold its 20 percent stake in the Saudi American Bank, now known as Samba Financial Group, to the state Public Investment Fund for $760 million in 2004, ending a business that started in 1955. A 2003 capital market law opened the door for foreign banks to apply for licenses..” [Complete Report]
