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A2 UP FRONT
Saturday 7 March 2020

Saudi ambassador to U.S. shrugs

off Biden, Sanders criticism

By MEAD GRUVER dar Al Saud shrugged off been a staunch ally.
Associated Press both Bernie Sanders and Reema became ambassa-
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Joe Biden saying last year dor to the U.S. in 2019 amid
Saudi Arabia's ambassador that the U.S.-Saudi relation- efforts by Saudi Arabia to
to the U.S. dismissed the top ship should be changed. improve its relationship
two Democratic presiden- "I've always found that, with the United States after
tial contenders' criticisms of many times, once a presi- Khashoggi's slaying.
her country, saying Thurs- dent gets to the White Reema was in Wyoming
day that candidates' opin- House, when they see a to seek political and eco-
In this Feb. 20, 2020, file photo, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pom- ions tend to change once 360 (degree) effect, opin- nomic ties with a major pro-
peo, left, walks with Saudi ambassador to the United States Prin- they become president. ions can change," Reema ducer of oil and natural gas
cess Reema Bint Bandar at Princess Reema's Palace in Riyadh.
Associated Press Princess Reema bint Ban- said during an interview that has been struggling
with The Associated Press in with fossil fuels' weak mar-
Wyoming. "And so I will nev- kets and uncertain outlook,
er comment on an election much like Saudi Arabia.
— it's not our place — but She also drew a compari-
I look forward to working son ahead of International
with whoever's in the White Women's Day on Sunday
House." between recent women's
In a November debate of rights advancements in
Democratic candidates, Saudi Arabia — where
Biden called Saudi Ara- women are now allowed
bia a "pariah" when refer- to drive vehicles — and
ring to the 2018 killing of Wyoming, which as a ter-
U.S.-based journalist Jamal ritory in 1869 became the
Khashoggi in the Saudi first U.S. state or territory to
consulate in Istanbul. give women the right to
Sanders also has been criti- vote.
cal of Saudi Arabia, call- "If I want to be a thriving na-
ing it in the same debate tion, if I want to be a thriving
a "brutal dictatorship" that state, if I want to be a glob-
treats women as "third- al player, certain things
class citizens." must happen," Reema said.
The killing of Khashoggi, "And the focus on women's
who wrote columns for the rights in my country is not
Washington Post critical of because somebody on the
the Saudi government un- outside told us, 'You must
der Crown Prince Moham- so this.' It's because 50% of
med bin Salman, provoked our community, if you'd like
outrage and condemna- a thriving economy, must
tion in the U.S., which has participate."q