[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 98 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       SAUDI ARABIA STILL DELAYS PAYMENT TO UNITED STATES COMPANY

                                 ______


                         HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 14, 1995
  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my continued and 
growing concern and frustration over the delay by the Saudi Arabian 
Government in paying the $43.4 million claim of my constituent Gibbs & 
Hill Inc. I have risen numerous times on the floor of this House to 
urge Saudi Ambassador Bandar to favorably resolve this last remaining 
claim, as has been committed to repeatedly by the Kingdom, and thereby 
complete his mandate for satisfactory resolution of these claims under 
the special claims process.
  On Friday, we passed the American Oversight Interest Act (HR 1561) 
which contained a provision sponsored by myself and Representative 
Smith to further this policy objective of our Nation. Section 3312, 
Notification of Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia, requires the President to 
notify to Congress of all arms sales to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
until such a time as the Secretary of State certifies that the Kingdom 
has satisfactorily resolved all claims identified in the June 30, 1993, 
report of the Secretary of Defense pursuant to the section 9401(c) of 
the fiscal year 1993 Department of Defense Appropriations Act.
  Now is the time for Ambassador Bandar to address this issue, meet 
with the company, and implement the payment of the claim. Ambassador 
Bandar's authority to implement payment of the claim is certain as was 
confirmed to Members of Congress and the company as recently as May 2, 
1995, by U.S. Ambassador Raymond Mabus. Ambassador Mabus has 
steadfastly advocated the State Department's position that the claims 
be satisfactorily resolved by Ambassador Bandar under this mandate. In 
his May 22, 1995, conversation with the company and Members of 
Congress, Ambassador Mabus noted that he had been assured by a member 
of the Saudi royal court, on the authority of the King, that the claim 
would soon be paid. Despite this direct and unequivocal commitment, the 
Kingdom has yet to pay the claim. The unresolved claims between 
American companies and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continue to place a 
strain on our relationship with the Kingdom. On April 7, 1995, I and 
several of my colleagues wrote to Chairman Gilman requesting that a 
hearing be scheduled as soon as practical to consider U.S. bilateral 
relations with the Kingdom. I renew my call to Chairman Gilman to 
schedule hearings on this subject so that we may fully explore our 
commercial relationship with the Kingdom.


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