SAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI ARABIA VOWS TO FIGHT TERRORISM AT SECURITY CONFERENCE IN RIYADH.
Record ID:
189779
SAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI ARABIA VOWS TO FIGHT TERRORISM AT SECURITY CONFERENCE IN RIYADH.
- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI ARABIA VOWS TO FIGHT TERRORISM AT SECURITY CONFERENCE IN RIYADH.
- Date: 5th February 2005
- Summary: (W3) RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (FEBRUARY 5, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS: ARMED SECURITY FORCES AT MARRIOTT HOTEL (8 SHOTS) 0.44 2. GV: CONFERENCE HALL AT KING FAHD CONFERENCE CENTRE 0.49 3. GV: CROWN PRICE ABDULLA BIN ABDUL AZIZ ENTERING THE HALL AND GREETING DIGNITARIES (2 SHOTS) 1.02 4. CU: MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE 1.06 5. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CROWN PRINCE ABDULLA BIN ABDUL AZIZ SAYING: "During this conference, we will present our experience in dealing with terrorism, and we also look forward to benefiting from your experiences in this area. I have no doubt - God willing -- that our collective experiences will help all of us in the battle against terrorism." 1.38 6. CU: FLAGS 1.44 7. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CROWN PRICE ABDULLA BIN ABDUL AZIZ SAYING: "In this regard, I call upon all countries to establish an international centre for combating terrorism where experts in this area can exchange information instantly in response to the demands of the situation and the need to prevent incidents - God willing - before they occur." 2.17 8. MCU: AUDIENCE 2.31 9. GV: CROWN PRINCE WALKING INTO LOBBY; GREETING ATTENDEES (2 SHOTS) 2.54 10. GV: FOUNTAIN 3.00 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 20th February 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Reuters ID: LVA566UQXXNR0B7ESA0CDRXFUN6P
- Story Text: Saudi Arabia vows to fight terrorism to the end but
warned that the war would be bitter and long.
Saudi Arabia, battling an al Qaeda campaign,
vowed on Saturday to fight terrorism to the end but warned
at a world anti-terror forum that the war in the world's
biggest oil exporter would be bitter and long.
"I know that terrorism will not go away overnight and
our war against terrorism will be long and bitter," de
facto ruler Crown Prince Abdullah told security and
intelligence officials from more than 50 countries.
"Terrorism increases in ferocity and violence the more
the noose tightens round its neck, but I trust the final
result will be victory, tolerance, love and peace,"
Abdullah said. "During this conference, we will present our
experience in dealing with terrorism, and we also look
forward to benefiting from your experiences in this area.
I have no doubt - God willing -- that our collective
experiences will help all of us in the battle against
terrorism" he said.
Most of the hijackers behind the Sept. 11 attacks in
the United States were Saudis and the kingdom was widely
criticised for dragging its feet in the battle against al
Qaeda.
But diplomats said it stepped up its efforts after
triple suicide bombings at expatriate residential compounds
in Riyadh killed 35 people, mainly foreigners, in May 2003.
"We are in a war against terrorism and whoever supports
it and justifies it," Abdullah said.
He urged countries to set up a global centre to
exchange information and to expand the fight. "It is
difficult to win in our war if it does not include the
criminal networks of arms and drugs smuggling, and money
laundering," Abdullah said. He went on to say "in this
regard, I call upon all countries to establish an
international center for combating terrorism where experts
in this area can exchange information instantly in response
to the demands of the situation and the need to prevent
incidents - God willing - before they occur."
The conference takes place less than six weeks after an
al Qaeda suicide bomber blew up a car outside the Saudi
Interior Ministry, the nerve centre of its battle against
militants.
Extra security in Riyadh, which has been on high alert
for nearly two years, was visible across the Saudi capital
on Saturday. Security forces manned roadblocks and special
forces in black balaclavas guarded delegates.
Speaking in a hall dripping with opulence, a U.N.
official gave a speech by Secretary-General Kofi Annan
which called on countries to also look at the causes of
terrorism.
"People must see that legitimate grievances can be
addressed by peaceful means," the envoy said, adding that
measures should be "much broader than coercive measures".
"Every time we stand up for human rights and
fundamental freedoms we, stand up against terror. Every
time we make the rule of law stronger, we make terrorism
weaker," he said.
Gulf countries feel threatened by al Qaeda, which wants
to topple their rulers because of close ties with
Washington. The network's Saudi-born leader Osama bin Laden
has urged direct strikes against oil facilities in the
region.
Kuwaiti security forces are hunting a number of key
militant suspects after a surge of al Qaeda-linked violence
last month.
In Oman, so far spared from militant violence,
authorities last month detained Islamists suspected of
planning to set up an organisation to "harm national
security".
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