The Hindu : Abdullah may ask Bush to do more

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 26, 2002

International

International

Abdullah may ask Bush to do more

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington April 25. The U.S. President, George W Bush, is due to receive Crown Prince Abdullah, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, at his private ranch in Crawford, Texas, in what is being billed as a crucial meeting, not merely for bilateral relations but for promoting peace and stability in West Asia.

The crown prince is one of a small group of leaders, including the Russian and British leaders, who have been invited by Mr. Bush to his ranch. The President attaches special significance to a meeting on his Texas ranch as opposed to a meeting in the White House. Many say the meeting, which will see Prince Abdullah and Mr. Bush discuss the West Asia peace process, may not be smooth-going.

The Republican administration's staunch support of Israel has troubled its allies in the Arab world. Saudi Arabia has been plain in its criticism of the Bush administration's West Asia policy. "Ariel Sharon, a man of peace? I don't think even Ariel Sharon believes that," said the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al Faisal, in reaction to Mr. Bush's statement saying that he believed the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, was a man of peace. The two leaders are expected to discuss the peace plan put forward by Prince Abdullah. They are also likely to talk about an international conference for West Asia, a plan that as yet does not have the full backing of the Bush administration. The Republican administration says a meeting of Foreign Ministers could be held initially. Prince Abdullah is expected to tell Mr. Bush to use his influence to persuade Mr. Sharon to lift the siege on Mr. Arafat. A number of issues have troubled relations between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. in recent times. Questions have been raised about the continued use of the Prince Sultan Air Base in the kingdom by the United States. Apart from its anger that 15 of the 19 hijackers involved in the terrorist attacks of September 11 were from Saudi Arabia, Washington has also been annoyed by a telethon sponsored by the kingdom to raise money for the relatives of Palestinian "martyrs" — the U.S. considers the suicide bombers terrorists and homicide bombers. At a Senate hearing on Wednesday, the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, said there were indications that $100 million of the money collected from the telethon might have gone to the Hamas.

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