Al-Jazeera TV Reports on US President's Visit to Saudi Arabia
Posted on: Friday, 16 May 2008, 15:00 CDT
Al-Jazeera Satellite Television at 1318 gmt on 16 May carries an announcer-read report saying that US President George Bush has arrived in Riyadh on a two-day official visit. The report cites US sources as saying that "Bush will ask Saudi Arabia to increase its oil production rates to reduce the increase in oil prices."
This is followed by a three-minute video report by Al-Jazeera's Amal Wannas.
Showing the Saudi king giving Bush a red carpet reception, Wannas begins by saying that Bush has come to Saudi Arabia for the second time in five months. She adds that Bush "is willing to achieve what his deputy Dick Cheney failed to do: namely, to persuade Saudi King Abdallah Bin-Abd-al-Aziz, who received him, that it is important to increase Saudi oil production." Wannas adds that a number of agreements are expected to be signed by the two sides.
She concludes: "Bush arrived in Riyadh coming from Israel, where he participated in the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the state of Israel. He is expected to renew in Riyadh his announcement of the need to contain the Iranian threat."
At 1323 gmt, Al-Jazeera carries a five-minute live satellite interview with Muhammad Bin-Abdallah Al Zulfa, member of the Saudi Shura Council, in Riyadh.
Asked about the expected issues on the agenda of Bush's visit to Saudi Arabia, Al Zulfa says the meeting will raise many regional issues like the situation in Lebanon, the Iranian nuclear file, the security of the Gulf area, the Palestinian issue.
Commenting on the security agreements to be signed by Saudi Arabia and the United States, Al Zulfa says: "The kingdom is not known for being hostile or aggressive, but it should, at the same time, be ready to defend itself against whoever tries to infringe on its borders, security, and stability."
Answering a question on the US request to raise oil production, Al Zulfa says: "Saudi Arabia is ready to sacrifice tremendously so that simple consumers are not affected." He continues to say: "The kingdom has sacrificed a lot. Sometimes its oil production exceeds domestic needs. However, it does not have any objection to meeting the requirements of the market in a way that does not harm world economy."
Originally published by Al-Jazeera TV, Doha, in Arabic 1318 16 May 08.
(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring Middle East. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East
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