Saudi Arabia has 'nothing bad' against Iran says Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal
Bush, facing recession fears at home after prices surged to a record 100 dollars at the start of the year, raised the sensitive issue on the second day of a visit to OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia -- the world's largest oil producer. He said he planned to discuss with King Abdullah "the fact that oil prices are very high, which is tough on our economy. And that I would hope, as OPEC considers different production levels, that they understand that if their -- one of their biggest consumers' economy suffers -- it will mean less purchases, less oil and gas sold." OPEC is due to meet in Vienna on February 1 under pressure to calm prices after shrugging off calls to increase output at its last meeting in December. Saudi Arabia's Oil Minister Ali al-Nuaimi later announced: "We will raise production when the market justifies it, this is our policy." Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal gave a cool response to Bush's request, made in Jerusalem last week, that Arab countries "reach out" to Isreal to boost the revived Middle East peace talks. "I don't know what more outreach we can give to the Israelis," the minister told a press conference with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Faisal, speaking through an interpreter, also said Saudi Arabia had "nothing bad" against its powerful neighbour Iran. "Iran is a neighbouring country, an important country in the region. Naturally we have nothing bad against Iran." Tuesday's talks between Bush and Abdullah, which follow dinner talks on Monday, were being held at the king's ranch in Janadriyah outside Riyadh, where even the stables for his thoroughbred horses are air-conditioned.
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