REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HIS MAJESTY KING ABDULLAH OF SAUDI ARABIA BEFORE MEETING

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA

AND HIS MAJESTY KING ABDULLAH OF SAUDI ARABIA

BEFORE MEETING

Oval Office

2:33 P.M. EDT

     PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Hello, everybody.  I want to welcome His Majesty King Abdullah to the White House, and I’m very pleased to be able to return the extraordinary hospitality that he showed me and my delegation when we visited Saudi Arabia and when we visited His Majesty’s farm.

     Since that historic meeting that took place 65 years ago between Franklin Delano Roosevelt and His Majesty’s father, King Abdul-Aziz, we have had a strong and strategic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

     I always value His Majesty’s wisdom and insights, and we have had a very productive session speaking about a whole range of issues that relate to both relations between our two countries but also issues of prosperity and security around the globe.

     We talked about our joint interest and work together in combating violent extremism.  And we talked about a range of strategic issues, including issues related to Afghanistan and Pakistan; Iran and its attempts to develop nuclear weapons capacity.  We discussed the Middle East peace process and the importance of moving forward in a significant and bold way in securing a Palestinian homeland that can live side by side with a secure and prosperous Israeli state.

     As representatives of two G20 countries, we also continued the conversation that took place this weekend about how the Saudi government and the United States government can work with our other partners around the world to keep the economic recovery going and to help bring about the strong economic growth that’s necessary to put people back to work.

     And we will continue to work together to expand the people-to-people contacts, the educational programs, the commercial ties, the business people who are working together in both countries so that not only do our governments remain strong partners but our people are continually enriching both countries.

     On behalf of the American people, welcome.  We appreciate your friendship.  And we appreciate your good counsel and look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen the strong bonds between our two countries.

     KING ABDULLAH:  (As translated.)  Thank you very much, Mr. President.  I believe you have covered everything and left nothing out in terms of our conversation.

     Mr. President, I would like to share with you the views that I have been hearing about you from other -- from around the world.  You are an honorable man and you are a good man.  And I don’t say this in order to compliment you -- I say this because this is the truth as I hear it from people around the world.

     And I would like to say to the friendly American people that the American people are friends of Saudi Arabia and its people, and they are friends of the Arab and Muslim people, and they are also friends of humanity.

     Mr. President, I would like to point to the historic ties of friendship between our two nations that began with the meeting that you pointed to, the meeting between the late King Abdul-Aziz and the late Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  Over the past seven decades, the relationship has grown stronger and broader and deeper, and we appreciate all that you personally have done to further broaden and deepen and strengthen this relationship.  And I hope that you will be able to continue to work with us on improving this relationship for many more years.

     Thank you, Mr. President, for a productive meeting.  I want to also thank our friends, the American people.  And I also would like to thank our friends here in the media.  May God spare us from all of the bad things they can do to us.  (Laughter.)  And may God bless us with all the positive things they can do for us and for humanity.

    

     PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, that is an excellent prayer.  Thank you.

                             END 

H.R.H. Prince Saud Al-Faisal to Address 2008 U.S.-Arab Economic Forum

For Immediate Release:2 April 2008

H.R.H. Prince Saud Al-Faisal to Address 2008 U.S.-Arab Economic Forum

H.R.H. Prince Saud Al-Faisal Bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will address the 3rd annual U.S. Arab-Economic Forum, May 7-9, 2008 in Washington, D.C.

Appointed in 1975, Prince Saud is among the longest serving foreign ministers in the world and has been a prominent figure in the international community. Prince Saud has been a tireless advocate of stability and peace in the region, acting as a key mediator in recent talks between Palestinians and Israelis playing a leading role in negotiating regional disputes. Currently, he is also the Managing Director of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development.

Prior to becoming Foreign Minister, Prince Saud served as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Member of the High Council of Petroleum. He received a B.Sc. in Economics from Princeton University in 1964.

H.R.H. Prince Saud Al-Faisal said in 2003 at the USAEF, “It is our hope that the turmoil our region has undergone in the past few years will be replaced by stability, prosperity, and peace. For this to happen, we must focus on finding solutions to the regions problems and improving the lives of its inhabitants. The United States can play a constructive role by providing leadership, talent and resources. And the U.S.-Arab Economic Forum can help shed light on the importance of trade and economic development not only in the region, but to American businesses as well.”

The U.S.-Arab Economic Forum, hosted by the American Middle East Economic Affairs Committee (AMEEAC) in cooperation with the League of Arab States, strives to enhance bilateral relations between the U.S. and Middle East. By bringing together top business, government, academic, and cultural leaders, the Forum acts as a catalyst for change and facilitates economic collaboration, cultural dialogue and innovation.

Past Forums have given U.S. and Arab leaders the opportunity to highlight their commitment to a shared civil society vision wherein diversity, tolerance, and the spirit of collaboration serve to create a better future for us all. This year’s forum will continue to promote this message with the theme “Open Markets and Open Societies”.