12 August 2002
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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