SAUDIS TURNING THEIR BACKS ON U.S. VARSITIES
"As a result of the difficulties Saudi students face in the United States after September 11 attacks... ...'The majority of them who used to study in the United States and the United Kingdom now go for Asian universities, especially Malaysia...'" Complete report… 

SAUDIS TEST LIMITS OF FREEDOM
"...the political climate in Saudi Arabia is changing, and  actual censorship is being replaced by self-censorship…"  Complete report…

SAUDI TEAM'S IRAQ VISIT DUBBED A GRAND SUCCESS
"A Saudi trade delegation's recent landmark visit to Iraq was described as a 'grand success'… …Iraq and Saudi Arabia, whose diplomatic relations have been cut since the 1991 Gulf war over Kuwait, initiated a rapprochement during an Arab summit in Beirut last March…"  [Expired Link]

CONSULTATIVE AGENCY FOR WATER TO BE ESTABLISHED
"Minister of Water Dr. Ghazi Al-Qusaibi has announced the establishment of a Consultative Agency for Water. The Agency, whose mandate is to assist the Ministry of Water in technical aspects of its mission, will be headed by the water minister, and have as members two representatives from each of the university research centers that focus on water affairs, plus one representative from the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)."  Source: Saudi Embassy online, Nov. 5, 2002 [Expired Link]

25% SAUDIS ARE DIABETIC, NEW STATISTICS REVEAL
"The number of diabetics in the Kingdom is growing alarmingly, with four million people — or 25 percent of the population — already suffering from the debilitating disease…"  [Expired Link] 

LABOR MINISTRY GIVEN SIX MONTHS TO TAKE CHARGE OF FOREIGN RECRUITMENT
"Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, has approved a grace period of six months for shifting the responsibility of foreign labor recruitment from the Interior Ministry to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs…"  [Expired Link]

CONTINUATION OF NEGOTIATIONS ON NATURAL GAS DRILLING CONCESSIONS
Al-Watan newspaper quoted Oil Minister Ali a-Nu'aymi who said in late October 2002 that Saudi Arabia is negotiating with a Russian oil company for the rights to drill for natural gas in the event that negotiations fail with seven Western oil companies. Exxon-Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, and British Petroleum (BP) have been negotiating with the Saudi government since early 2001 over the rights to natural gas exploration in three gas fields with estimated reserves of 20 trillion cubic meters. Source:  IPR Strategic Business Information Database, Nov 12, 2002 [Expired Link]

INAUGURATION OF MEDICAL CENTER FOR WOMEN IN RIYADH
Al-Watan newspaper reported on the inauguration of the first stage of the Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Medical Center for Women in Riyadh. Participating in the ceremony held in late October 2002 were Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz; Secretary General of the Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Charity Prince Feisal bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, who is also Deputy Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia; and General Manager of the Charity Dr. Rashid Abu al-Khail. The new Medical Center is located in northern Riyadh, and the first stage includes 71 in-patient hospital beds and has 800 employees including medical staff. It is operated with the cooperation of an American medical organization.  Source:  IPR Strategic Business Information Database, Nov 12, 2002 [Expired Link]

WORLD 'MOVING CLOSER TO CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS'
Participants in an international symposium here this week stressed that the world has moved closer towards radicalization and "clash of civilizations" after September 11, but at the same time witnessed serious calls for dialogue between nations.  Intellectuals and experts from Germany, France, Switzerland, Britain, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen met in a three-day symposium to discuss how September 11 has led the Islamic opposition to the extreme in resisting the authoritarian regimes and the Western hegemony..."  [Expired Link]

NEW MEASURES IN THE OFFING TO TACKLE DEBTS: SULTAN
"Saudi Arabia will soon announce new measures including taxation to tackle its staggering public debt problem, according to Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation.  In an open dialogue with Shoura Council members recently, the prince said the new measures aimed at increasing revenues and reducing expenditures will be presented to the Shoura Council for endorsement..."  [Expired Link]

INAUGURATION OF NEW INDUSTRIAL PLANTS IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS OF YANBU'AND JUBAYL
A-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper gave details of the inauguration ceremonies of new industrial plants in the industrial areas of Yanbu' and Jubayl cities, in the eastern part of the country, held in October 2002. The paper noted that the participants in the ceremonies included the Crown Prince, Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz. The paper added that the total investment in these plants reached SR 35 billion, $9.33 billion and the paper quoted the Chairman of the Industrial Areas Authority, Prince Saud bin Abd Abdullah bin Thanayan al-Saud, who told the paper that 60,000 workers are employed in these two industrial areas and its production represents nearly 60% of the industrial
output of the country.  Source:  IPR Strategic Business Information Database, Nov 12, 2002 [Expired Link]

SPIRITED EXCHANGE MARKS FORTUNE GLOBAL FORUM
"...Dialogue was lively, if not passionate: Responding to a comment about increased democratization in Saudi Arabia, Lubna Suliman Olayan, CEO of the Saudi-based Olayan Financing Company, acknowledged: 'Improvements need to be done. But democracy defined by the US is not necessarily what we need in Saudi Arabia. Our version of 'democracy' has to come from within...'"  [Expired Link]

$20 BILLION INVESTMENTS NEEDED ANNUALLY
According to Al-Hayat newspaper (November 6, 2002), Saudi economists said that their country needs $20 billion worth of annual investments over the next 20 years. Saudi Arabia needs these investments to finance infrastructure and basic service projects. The local population grows by 3.8 percent, which is one of the highest growth rates in the world. This requires more and more infrastructure and basic services projects.  Source:  IPR Strategic Business Information Database, Nov 11, 2002 [Expired Link]

AL-RAYA: SAUDI MEDIA WAR AGAINST AL-JAZEERA
"…the Qatari daily al-Raya accused Saudi Arabia of running a "hidden war" against the Qatari satellite al-Jazeera TV station…"  Complete report…

BUSINESSWOMEN INVEST IN PROJECTS
A-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper gave details of the involvement of local businesswomen in the funding of projects in the country. The paper quoted data on this subject, data which was published in mid-October 2002 by the Government Investment Agency. According to these publications businesswomen invested SR 700 million, equal to $186 million, in forty-three projects in the sectors of: industry - 20 projects, services - twenty-three projects. The paper also noted that Arab and also foreign women stand behind these investments, SR 38 million of these investments came from American women and SR 7 million from Palestinian women. Other investments came from Germany, Lebanon, Syria, Pakistan, Spain, and Canada, the paper added.  Source:  IPR Strategic Business Information Database, Nov 10, 2002  [Expired Link]

INCREASE IN STATE INCOME AND REDUCTION OF BUDGET DEFICIT
A-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper quoted the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ibrahim al-Assaf, who said that the financial condition of Saudi Arabia in 2002 is better that previously estimated by financial experts. He estimated in that the budget deficit will diminish due to the growth in state income. He also said that the indicators for the first three-quarters of 2002 verify the above statement. The paper noted that he spoke at the Conference of the Finance Ministers of the Gulf States held in Riyadh in mid-October 2002.  Source:  IPR Strategic Business Information Database, Nov 10, 2002  [Expired Link]

IRAQ: 89 SAUDI COMPANIES REGISTERED
According to Al-Watan newspaper (November 5, 2002), the Iraqi government accomplished registering 89 Saudi companies in Iraq, after excluding these companies from some of the conditions imposed on foreign companies, and which last 4-5 months. These Saudi companies, of which 45 trading companies and 44 are manufacturing companies, have an opportunity to bid for all tenders in Iraq. As a result, the number of the registered Saudi enterprises in Iraq grew to 130 companies.  Source:  IPR Strategic Business Information Database, Nov 7, 2002  [Expired Link]

PROHIBITION OF FOREIGN CITIZENS TO DRIVE TAXIS
Al-Watan newspaper printed a notice published in late October 2002 by a local news agency announcing that it was forbidden for foreign citizens to operate taxis in the country. Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz directed the Interior Ministry to implement these new guidelines on this matter; giving the Interior Ministry six months to implement the decision. The paper noted that, unofficially, there are 50,000 taxis operating in the country, most of whose drivers are foreign nationals from Asia. The population of Saudi Arabia is 22 million, with 6-7 million foreign nationals. The unemployment rate is 20% among men and 10% among women.  Source:  IPR Strategic Business Information Database, Nov 12, 2002  [Expired Link]

SAUDI ARABIA AND THE POLITICS OF PETROLEUM
CNN INTERNATIONAL - "Q&A WITH ZAIN VERJEE"
November 11, 2002 Monday

GUESTS: Abdullah Bin Faisal Bin Turki Al-Saud, Youssef Ibrahim, Edward Morse
BYLINE: Jim Clancy, Zain Verjee

BODY:
JIM CLANCY, CNN ANCHOR: Saudi Arabia awash in oil, the very lifeblood of its
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: As the world prepares for possible conflict with
Iraq, what's the outlook for Saudi Arabia?

CLANCY: It's been a dozen years since Saudi Arabia was an integral part of the Persian Gulf War. Now the House of Saud is vacillating, sending mixed signals on just how much cooperation Washington can expect if it comes to a fight.

VERJEE: What pressures are on the kingdom now? Where are its loyalties? And what economics are at play? CLANCY: On this edition of Q&A, Saudi Arabia and the politics of petroleum.

And welcome once again to Q&A.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, pressured from outside to support a new buildup against Iraq, pressured from within to maintain its distance.

VERJEE: As the world waits to hear Iraq's response, some experts say that it's Saudi Arabia that has the most to win or lose in any conflict. That, they say, is because much of the politics in the conflict are the politics of oil.

CLANCY: Now, Iraq is an economic rival to Saudi Arabia. It too has vast oil reserves, and the outcome of any military action with Iraq could not only affect Saudi Arabia, but also the global economy.

Joining us to talk a little bit about all of this.

VERJEE: Is his highness, Prince Abdullah Bin Faisal Bin Turki Al- Saud; as governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, he recommends economic policy.

Welcome to the show.

ABDULLAH BIN TURKI AL-SAUD, S. ARABIAN INVESTMENT AUTHORITY: Thank you.

CLANCY: All right. Very good to have you with us, sir. And let's just begin right here. Many people arguing that OPEC, that Saudi Arabia, in fact, is aiming too high with setting the price of a barrel of oil, that it wants to see around $25, that you're responsible for setting back the entire global recovery.

AL-SAUD: Well, this was an OPEC decision that took care of the interests of producers and consumers.

It is not good for oil prices to be high or low, and this is something that OPEC has worked with in the past and coordinated very well with the producers.

CLANCY: But Prince Abdullah -- Prince Abdullah, you are a man who looks at investment. You looked at the economic well being of the Saudi kingdom, and I'm just wondering -- you can understand how the rest of the world would like to see a lower oil price to help stimulate economies out of a recession, and that in turn could lead to more investment in alternative industries inside Saudi Arabia, couldn't it?

AL-SAUD: There is no doubt that all of us should work towards improving economic situations around the world. But oil is not the only determining factor for a recession, or a recovery. I think there are so many reasons.

As for the Saudis, I think they will continue to play a part in whatever role needed and to work with the consumers as well, and this has been the Saudi record in past crises.

VERJEE: Are you saying then, if there is war against Iraq, and Iraqi oil exports are to fall, would Saudi Arabia then make up the difference, as it has in the past?

AL-SAUD: I think this has been the Saudi line, and that is to have the ability to stabilize oil prices and supplies.

Saudi Arabia is the only country that has invested heavily in excess capacity just to make sure there is stability.

VERJEE: So you would?

AL-SAUD: Well, I can't speak for another department, but I'm sure this has been the previous policy of Saudi Arabia, and Saudis always, I think, are sensitive to a nation's stability, because they look at things long term.

VERJEE: Could you just explain to us, though, under what circumstances would Saudi Arabia make up the difference? And under what circumstances wouldn't Saudi Arabia make up the difference?

AL-SAUD: Well, I'm not an oil expert or a spokesman for the oil sector in Saudi Arabia, but I go by the record of the government policy, and that should be a comforting one for the whole world.

CLANCY: Sheikh Abdullah, as we look at the Saudi economy and you look at investment in Saudi Arabia, much of the debt that is held by the country is held internally, but there are also rumors that some of the banks are trying to limit the credit, if you will, of Saudi Arabia right now, fearing the uncertainty of a conflict in the Gulf. Do you see that reflected?

AL-SAUD: Well, any uncertainty and worry, even bad weather in the region, effects business, commercial and economic issues. And we've had too many problems in the Middle East for so long.

But a lot of things, a lot of good things, are done, particularly on the economic development and business side. So I am confident that people will handle a lot of these issues.

As for the Saudis, the deficit is manageable. There is no problem at all with lending to the Saudi market, and the local banks are very solid and very well-regulated. The currency has been stable, well-managed and well-covered for 30 years, and the Saudi market is very well-known to all international companies and our trading partners.

So I think the problem is more regional, if all the stress, at a very high level, continues for a long time.

CLANCY: Sheikh Abdullah, Prince Abdullah, I want to come back and ask you a
question. You