U.S. Pleased with Saudi, Iranian Cooperation Against Al Qaeda
(Reeker says U.S.-Saudi counterterrorism cooperation is "very solid") (940) Commenting upon the transfer of 16 al Qaeda suspects from Iran to Saudi Arabia, State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip Reeker said cooperation in law enforcement, intelligence and information sharing is an "important aspect" in the international campaign against terrorism. Speaking at the August 12 State Department briefing, Reeker said the United States has been "very pleased" with Saudi Arabia's counterterrorism cooperation. "We have every expectation to believe that will continue," he added. The 16 al Qaeda suspects are reported to have taken refuge in Iran following U.S. military action in Afghanistan. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal announced that the Iranian government handed them over to Saudi authorities August 11. Reeker said the United States has been willing to engage the Iranian government on the international efforts against al Qaeda, as well as other issues, such as bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan, counternarcotics and refugee relief. "We have, when it's been in our interest to do so, not hesitated to engage the Iranian government on these issues. We think any cooperation in that regard is a positive thing," he said. Reeker said every nation needed to contribute to the international campaign against al Qaeda and international terrorism through "law enforcement and information-sharing." Following is an excerpt from the August 12 State Department briefing: (begin excerpt) Q: Yes, on Iran, the Saudi foreign minister said, I believe it was yesterday, that the Iranians have expelled 16 al Qaeda members from Iran to Saudi Arabia. And he added that the Saudis would pass you on the information that they would get from these 16 al Qaeda people. Can you confirm this -- MR. REEKER: As you know, we've long encouraged cooperation in the international campaign against terrorism. It is our understanding that Iran has rendered 16 al Qaeda suspects to Saudi authorities. I'd just refer you to Saudi officials and/or Iranian authorities for comments or specifics on this hand-over. I think, as we've said many times in the past, we've been very pleased with the level of Saudi cooperation in the international campaign against terrorism. When it's been in our interest to do so, we've not hesitated to also engage the Iranian government on such issues as the international efforts to bring al Qaeda terrorists to justice and to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan, as well as areas like counternarcotics and refugee relief. So we're continuing to cooperate with Iran in these mutual interests. But for details on that, I'd just refer you to either of those governments. Q: Do you expect the Saudis to give you the information that they could get from these people? MR. REEKER: Again, as we've said many times, U.S.-Saudi counterterrorism cooperation has been very solid, and we have every expectation to believe that that will continue. In terms of specific questions on access to suspects, I'd have to refer you to law enforcement officials at the -- Q: Do you believe there still are al Qaeda people hiding in Iran or protected by the Iranian authorities? MR. REEKER: I think -- I'm not in a position to provide you any more specific information. What I've said is, we have sought, when we have interests in doing that, in engaging the Iranian government on this issue. And clearly, we've been quite clear in the need for everybody to contribute to the efforts to fight al Qaeda and international terrorism. One of the key tools in the war on terror is, indeed, law enforcement cooperation, as well as information and intelligence sharing. And that's been an important aspect in this effort. So -- Yes, Elaine. Q: Can I just follow up briefly on that? Do you have anything to say, though, specifically about the fact that the Iranians have done this? I mean, do you see this as an indication that they're trying to be more cooperative? Or -- MR. REEKER: Well, again, I can just repeat what I said: We have, when it's been in our interest to do so, not hesitated to engage the Iranian government on these issues. We think any cooperation in that regard is a positive thing. So I think the president has been quite clear in his statement from July the 12th in terms of our views about Iran and has said that if Iran moves toward freedom and tolerance, they'll have no better friend than the United States. And so we continue to stand by that but look for everybody to cooperate in the war against terrorism in terms of these law enforcement and information-sharing that goes on. (end excerpt) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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