*EPF207 05/13/2003
Transcript: U.S. and Saudis Pledge Cooperation to Combat Terrorism
(Powell arrives in Riyadh May 13, hours after terrorist attacks there) (640)

Speaking together in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, just hours after terrorist attacks killed an estimated ten Americans and numerous Saudi and international residents just outside Riyadh, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al Faisal bin Abdel Aziz pledged to increase their joint efforts to combat terrorism.

During their May 13 press conference, Foreign Minister Saud condemned the attacks and said that Saudi Arabia would not hesitate to take whatever measures are needed to oppose "these people who hate" and kill "for no purpose whatsoever."

Secretary Powell extended his condolences to the families of all those killed, noting the many nationalities of the victims.

"Terrorism strikes anywhere, everyone. It is a threat to the entire civilized world, and even in this moment of sadness, we will commit ourselves again to redouble our efforts, work closely with our Saudi friends and friends all around the world to go after al Qaeda," he said.

"The president has made it clear that terrorism is the number one priority for all of us. We will not rest until we have dealt with this threat to all of us," Powell said.

Secretary Powell arrived in Riyadh May 13 to hold talks with Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz as part of a Middle East tour.

Following is a transcript of the statements by Secretary Powell and Foreign Minister Saud upon the secretary's arrival in Riyadh:

(begin transcript)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
(Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

May 13, 2003

Remarks to the Press
By Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
And Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al Faisal bin Abdel Aziz
At VIP Reception Hall, Riyadh Air Base
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

May 13, 2003

FOREIGN MINISTER SAUD: First of all, we'd like to welcome His Excellency, in spite of the tragic events that have happened, in which both a lot of Saudi citizen was mixed in this tragic event with American ones. It shows, but it is no consolation, that these things happen everywhere. It is truly a matter of long-standing that we are waging against terrorism, as the President has said and as the Secretary has said. It should increase our efforts, it should make us not hesitate to take whatever measures that are needed to oppose these people who only hate, only killing, and for no purpose whatsoever.

SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you, Mr. Minister. I just had a briefing from our country team. I extend my condolences to the families of those who are lost today, not only US families, but many other lives were lost and many other nationalities were represented, and I look forward to getting a fuller briefing in the course of my stay here. Right now, it seems as if we have lost ten Americans, killed, a number of other lives were lost and I'll let the Saudi Ministry of Interior give out those numbers as they become firm, but there was a large loss of life of others as well as a large number of injuries in the three compounds that were struck.

As the Minister has just said, terrorism strikes anywhere, everyone. It is a threat to the entire civilized world, and even in this moment of sadness, we will commit ourselves again to redouble our efforts, work closely with our Saudi friends, and friends all around the world to go after al Qaeda, to go after terrorists, to go after those who would kill innocent people, and to make sure that the scourge is lifted from the earth. The President has made it clear that terrorism is the number one priority for all of us. We will not rest until we have dealt with this threat to all of us. Thank you.

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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