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Saudi Arabia Country Profile - BBC: LINK ¤ B B C

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• "in the last years - there are some positive developments !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "stronger women rights - women are allowed to travel without male guardian's approval since 2019 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "women are also able to apply for passports - to study at university - register a marriage, or divorce - and to obtain a national identity card !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "some cities become - more sustainable !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "and there are reforms of the Sharia and the Shoura Council - to make them more modern !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "but some policies of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman, MbS - are too offensive !"

 

 

 

 

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• "for example the unnecessary mistreatment of dissidents, including Jamal Khashoggi - the journalist who had been murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul !"

 

 

 

 

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• "particularly the - foreign policy !"

 

 

 

 

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• "and especially in - Yemen !"

 

 

 

 

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• "but the Crown Prince MbS - has also curbed the powers of the religious police !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Saudis' Checkbook Diplomacy - New York Times: LINK ¤ NEW YORK TIMES

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• "in the documents of the diplomatic cables - it seems that everyone wanted something from Saudi Arabia !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "a Lebanese politician had begged for cash - to pay his bodyguards !"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "even the state news agency of Guinea, in West Africa - asked for money to solve many of the problems the agency was facing !"

 

 

 

 

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• "the kingdom tried to shape regional events - and support figures sympathetic to its worldview !"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the documents contain enough detail to shed light on the diplomacy - and to embarrass Saudi officials !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "and those who lobbied them - for financial aid !"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "they allowed the curious to get a glimpse - of the often complex interactions !"

 

 

 

 

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• "between a kingdom seen by many as the rich uncle of the region - and its clients, from Africa to Australia !"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the most informative documents were diplomatic cables from Saudi embassies - around the world to the foreign ministry !"

 

 

 

 

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• "many of which were then passed along to the office of the king - for final decisions !"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "many documents focused on a turbulent period - beginning after the popular uprisings that toppled Arab leaders in 2011 !"

 

 

 

 

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• "the cables show Saudi Arabia had tried to work - to maintain regional influence !"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the documents also indicated concerted Saudi efforts - to shape news media coverage !"

 

 

 

 

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• "both inside - and outside the kingdom !"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "documents suggested intervention at the highest levels - to shape domestic media coverage in a way that suited the rulers !"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "one surprise in the documents was that the former Saudi foreign minister - Prince Saud al-Faisal !"

 

 

 

 

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• "had to seek the permission of the King - before proceeding with even minor matters !"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "also in the cache was an email to a foreign ministry official from a technology company called StarLink - whose website says it was a "security adviser"  !"

 

 

 

 

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• "reached by phone, the company’s business development manager, Mahmoud Odeh - confirmed !"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "that StarLink had provided computer security services - to the Saudi government !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saudi Finance Minister al Assaf - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09RIYADH985

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• "oil-price volatility - remains a concern !"

 

 

 

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• "it is important to regulate - non-commercial oil contracts !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "so prices will reflect fundamentals - not speculative activity !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

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• "the King had stressed US$ 75 per barrel - as a reasonable oil price !"

 

 

 

 

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• "Finance Minister al Assaf said:  "we still believe - in the dollar !""

 

 

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• "US secretary Geithner said the US appreciated - Saudi Arabia's continued support !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Saudi Royal Diwan - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09STATE64312

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• "US analysts were interested in the role and responsibilities - of the Saudi Royal court !"

 

 

 

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• "also known as the - Royal Diwan !"

 

 

 

 

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• "the Diwan was the Kingdom's - most important political institution !"

 

 

 

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• "it encompassed the offices of the King - and Crown Prince !"

 

 

 

 

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• "senior Royal family councils - the council of Ministers !"

 

 

 

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• "and a range of independent agencies and advisory bodies - such as the Shura council !"

 

 

 

 

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• "we were interested - in increasing our understanding !"

 

 

 

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• "of the structure and function - of the Royal Diwan !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eastern Province - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09DHAHRAN187

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• "beside being the largest province - the Eastern Province sits atop the oil reserves !"

 

 

 

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• "the most important player was without question - the government-owned oil company !"

 

 

 

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• "Saudi Aramco !"

 

 

 

 

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• "the US enjoyed - a close working relationship with Aramco !"

 

 

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• "largely due to - historical American roots !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Human Rights - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09RIYADH824

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• "Saudi human rights activist Ibrahim Mugaiteeb said: "the Kingdom's most pressing - human rights issues !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!""

 

 

 

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• "were the status - of women !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "and the deteriorating situation - of the Shi'a !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "changes to recognize and protect - the legal status of women !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

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• "would empower women to make basic choices - about their lives !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAUDI ARABIA - Wikipedia EN: LINK ¤ SAUDI ARABIA