Downing Street Says » Saudi State Visit

Asked for any background on the rather sudden announcement that the Foreign Secretary had adopted a son and pulled out of meeting with the Saudi Foreign Minister, the PMS replied that she would not be getting into any details regarding the Foreign Secretary’s personal circumstances. The Foreign Office had issued a short statement that set out the brief detail, but the meeting would go ahead today with Kim Howells in the Foreign Secretary’s place.

Asked for reaction to the news this morning that Saudi Arabia had given Britain intelligence material that could have prevented the 7/7 bombings, the PMS replied that the Home Office had already issued their response to that particular issue, and we had nothing further to add to that. The UK-Saudi Arabia "Two Kingdoms" dialogue taking place today would provide us with an important opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues which would include peace and security in the Middle East, and also our joint determination to fight terrorism.

Asked if the Prime Minister would be raising the issue of human rights in Saudi Arabia with the King, the PMS replied that as we said last week when asked this question, as the meeting was not until Wednesday, we would not be getting into details. But the Prime Minister would obviously raise issues that he believed to be appropriate. Where we have had concerns in the past regarding human rights, we had made those views clear to the Saudi authorities. But equally we did have to recognise that there were important developments underway in Saudi Arabia, for example the establishment of the National Human Rights Council.

Asked for the Prime Minister’s position on the Serious Fraud Office inquiry, and whether he believed that it was still a good idea that this should have been dropped, the PMS replied that the Government’s position on this issue had not changed.

Asked if the Government was still opposed to a public inquiry on the 7/7 attacks, the PMS replied again that the Government’s position on this had not changed.

Asked if the Prime Minister agreed with the Saudi King that Britain was not doing enough to fight terrorism, the PMS replied that particular issues surrounding counter-terrorism had been dealt with by the Home Office.

Asked if counter-terrorism ministers would be attending the "Two Kingdoms" dialogue, the PMS replied that we would check the exact cast list, but Kim Howells would be attending and counter-terrorism was one of the issues on the agenda.

Asked if it was correct that neither the Foreign Secretary or the Saudi Foreign Minister would be attending, the PMS replied that as we had said, Kim Howells would be attending in place of David Miliband in light of the personal circumstances that had arisen.

Asked when the Foreign Office told the Saudis that the Foreign Secretary would not be attending, the PMS referred journalists to the Foreign Office.

Asked what the Prime Minister thought was good about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, the PMS replied that the Government had where necessary raised concerns that we had regarding human rights. But equally we recognised that there were developments underway with the establishment of the National Human Rights Council for example. There had also been recent local council elections, and encouraging statements from the authorities that women would vote next time elections take place. So whilst we had raised concerns in the past, we did also have to recognise developments.

Asked when the Prime Minister became aware that the Foreign Secretary would not be attending the meeting, the PMS replied that she would not be getting into details, but the Prime Minister was aware of the situation.

Asked why the Saudi Foreign Minister was not attending, the PMS replied that that question should be addressed to the Foreign Office.

Put that it was a snub, the PMS replied that she certainly did not recognise that description of events.

Asked if Kim Howells’ opposite number would be attending, the PMS replied that it was her understanding that he would be attending.

Asked for the official reason given for the Foreign Secretary not attending, the PMS replied that she did not have the statement to hand, but the Foreign Secretary was unable to attend due to personal circumstances of a happy nature. But Lobby would appreciate that it was not her position to brief on these things.

1 Comment »

He could have adopted a teenager from one of the many Saudi Arabian political jails and internment camps. Wasn’t the ‘war on terror’, as Blair said, supposed to be against medieval dictators and the brutality that goes with them. So what are they doing at Downing Street?
Comment by Tony — 29 Oct 2007 on 10:33 pm | Link

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» Monday, October 29, 2007

Saudi State Visit

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