- Title: Saudi foreign minister expresses confidence in Trump administration
- Date: 24th January 2017
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (JANUARY 24, 2017) (REUTERS) SAUDI FOREIGN MINSTER AND FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM PHOTOGRAPHER VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, JEAN MARC AYRAULT, SAYING: "The issue is not that we want to go back and rerun the election campaign. It's not our business to interfere in American internal affairs. But the U.S. is a powerful country. It's a superpower. And it carries responsibilities to the world. Even if it is defending the interests of its people, it cannot defend its people's interests without a multilateral approach." CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER, ADEL AL-JUBAIR, SAYING: "When you look at the individuals that President Trump has appointed or nominated for key positions - whether we are talking about General Mattis at the Defense Department, General Kelly at Homeland Security, Mike Pompeo at the CIA, Rex Tillerson at the State Department, when we're talking about Mr. Wilbur Ross at the Commerce Department, Mr. Minucci at the Treasury Department - these are very, very impressive individuals. They're highly capable, they're highly experienced and they have a very realistic and wise view of the world and of America's role in it. So once again, I say we are very very optimistic about the Trump administration and working closely with the Trump administration to deal with many challenges - not only in our region, but in the world." CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS SAUDI AND FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTERS SHAKING HANDS AND LEAVING VARIOUS OF FLAGS OF SAUDI ARABIA AND FRANCE
- Embargoed: 7th February 2017 15:46
- Keywords: Ayrault France foreign minister Saudi Arabia Jubair Syria
- Location: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
- City: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00160FYZPJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Saudi Foreign Minister and French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault suggested on Tuesday (January 24) that cooperation with the new U.S. President would be important on a range of Middle East issues.
Addressing a joint news conference in Riyadh on a visit to Saudi Arabia, Ayrault said Trump's new administration would not be able to defend the interests of the American people unless it cooperated with other powers.
Jubeir said he was optimistic about the possibilities of regional powers working with the Trump administration.
He expressed confidence in Trump's cabinet nominees, including national security adviser Michael Flynn, whom he described as "an American patriot."
Flynn ruffled feathers with divisive rhetoric on the campaign trail, such as a Twitter comment that "Fear of Muslims is RATIONAL."
Ayrault was more circumspect about the likelihood of cooperation with Trump, and noted that uncertainties existed about the new administration's policies.
Ayrault also met with the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other Saudi dignitaries.
Both France and Saudi Arabia are backers of Syrian rebels and the two ministers hoped Syrian truce talks in Astana would lead to a resumption of U.N.-led peace efforts in Geneva. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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