Saudi FM: Saudi Arabia Welcomes Release of the '28 Pages'

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir said Saudi Arabia welcomed the release of the 28 pages redacted from the Congressional Joint Inquiry into 9/11, and reiterated the Kingdom's commitment to crushing terrorism at home and abroad.

"Since the tragic events of 9/11, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has embarked on a series of major steps in confronting terrorism," Minister Al-Jubeir said at a press conference at the Saudi Embassy in Washington following Friday's release of the 28 pages.

"We have put in place financial control mechanisms that are unprecedented for any other country. We have shut down institutions that use fundraising in order to support extremist causes and terrorism. We have put in place laws to criminalize terror financing. We have detained a large number of people. We have prosecuted a large number of people. We have jailed a large number of people. We have put in place better systems in terms of looking at cash couriers," said Minister Al-Jubeir. "Saudi Arabia is in the forefront of countries when it comes to fighting terrorism."

The Foreign Minister said that redacted pages exonerate the Saudi government from involvement in the events of 9/11, as the 28 pages were reviewed by U.S. intelligence agencies who said there is no involvement of the Saudi government or Saudi officials in the events of 9/11.

"We hope with the release of these pages, the aspersions that have been cast against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the past 14 years will come to an end. And we hope that we can focus on moving forward in a cooperative way in order to go after the men, the money and the mindset that represents a threat to your people and ours."

Minister Al-Jubeir said Saudi Arabia is a victim of terrorism, and works with its allies in going after terrorists and their supporters.

"Terrorism has no religion, it has no nationality, it has no ethnicity, it has no humanity. It is incumbent upon all of us to do everything in our power to defeat it," said Minister Al-Jubeir.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is determined to go after the terrorists, those who finance them, and those who justify their actions."

This is distributed by Qorvis MSLGROUP on behalf of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

SOURCE Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Information Office