11 October 2001

U.S. "Very Satisfied" with Saudi Cooperation on Terrorism

State Department spokesman said the U.S. government is "very satisfied" with Saudi Arabia's cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

"They've been with us in many areas of this coalition and many of the steps that need to be taken. You know they've helped to isolate Taliban diplomatically. They've worked with us on a number of military requests that we've had. And we're working together in the financial area as well. So we're very satisfied with the cooperation. We've found that they've been together on everything we've asked," Boucher said while briefing the media at the State Department in Washington October 11.

Boucher said the United States and Saudi Arabia are working together on combating terrorist financing, a long-term effort that does not yield instant results.

Following are excerpts from Boucher's October 11 briefing with his comments about Saudi Arabia:

Question: Let's, if we could, return for a minute to the issue of Saudi cooperation. Now there is a report in a newspaper that the Saudis are declining to freeze assets of terrorist groups, that they're dragging their heels, similar to the idea a week or two ago that they wouldn't permit the US use of their Prince Sultan base. Could you characterize Saudi behavior on asset freezing for us?

Mr. Boucher: I would be glad to, and it remains where we -- what we have said before. We are very satisfied with Saudi cooperation. They have been with us in many areas of this coalition and many of the steps that need to be taken. You know, they have helped to isolate the Taliban diplomatically. They have worked with us on a number of military requests that we have had. And we are working together in the financial area as well. So we are very satisfied with the cooperation. We found that they have been together on everything that we have asked.

Specifically, on the question of financial discussions, we have had financial discussions with Saudi experts on how to take steps together in the financial area. We will have those discussions continue. As the President and the Secretary have made clear, we are in a long-term campaign against terrorism. Combating terrorist financing is an integral part of that, but not necessarily one that leads to instant results. So we are working together with the Saudis on that.

As far as the specifics, as you know, we are not trying to speak for other governments. But I do know that the Reuters news agency has reported half a dozen or several different things the Saudi Government has done. And since they are present in the room and like to be mentioned, let me cite that October 1st, Reuters said that Saudi Arabia had announced it was about to join the convention for the suppression of the financing on terrorism. That they have ordered banks to check for dealings with suspect groups and individuals on the 9th, which is two days ago. The Ministry of Commerce in Saudi Arabia issued detailed instructions to chambers of commerce on monitoring of reporting of suspicious business dealings and financial transactions.

So these are facts that I am sure you will all check out before making sweeping statements. But, at least according to the reports I have, they are taking specific steps and I know that from the kind of cooperation we have expected, we have found the kind of cooperation to be very satisfying.

....

Question: Can I go back, just to go back to Saudi Arabia, can you specifically whether or not you have requested the Saudis to close certain bank accounts and certain charities, and whether or not the Saudis have agreed to that?

Mr. Boucher: I can't. From the beginning, we have established the policy of not being too specific about the requests that we have made, nor am I going to talk or disclose for other governments what they might have done. That is a question you will have to ask them. If they want to talk about specific steps they have taken in the financial area, we would be happy to have them do that.

I have cited three or four that I have seen already discussed in public by the Saudis.