(REUTERS) Annan "surprised" Giuliani turned down Saudi check
Annan "surprised" Giuliani turned down Saudi check
UNITED NATIONS, Oct 12 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General
Kofi Annan, who won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, said he
was "surprised" at the strong reaction of New York Mayor
Rudolph Giuliani in rejecting a Saudi prince's $10 million
donation for victims of the World Trade Center carnage.
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal toured the site of the Sept. 11
destruction with the Giuliani on Thursday, offered to donate
the money and then gave opinions on the Middle East that the
mayor opposed.
In response to a question, Annan said: "I was surprised
that that happened. We are all entitled to freedom of
expression, the prince gave his opinion.
"And I'm surprised the mayor reacted so strongly in
returning the check," he told a news conference after the Nobel
Prize Committee in Norway awarded him and the United United
Nations its centennial peace prize.
The prince on Thursday said: "The government of the United
States of America should re-examine its policies in the Middle
East and adopt a more balanced stance toward the Palestinian
cause," adding:
"Our Palestinian brethren continue to be slaughtered at the
hands of Israelis while the world turns the other cheek."
In response, the mayor said: "Not only are those statements
wrong, they are part of the problem."
In Dubai on Friday, a statement issued by the Kingdom
Holding Company, of which Prince Alwaleed is chairman, said:
"Although Prince Alwaleed in his statement strongly denounced
terrorism, his stance on the U.S. foreign policy was not to the
liking of Mayor Giuliani and some U.S. media."
REUTERS
*** end of story ***
(REUTERS) Annan "surprised" Giuliani turned down Saudi check
Annan "surprised" Giuliani turned down Saudi check
UNITED NATIONS, Oct 12 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General
Kofi Annan, who won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, said he
was "surprised" at the strong reaction of New York Mayor
Rudolph Giuliani in rejecting a Saudi prince's $10 million
donation for victims of the World Trade Center carnage.
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal toured the site of the Sept. 11
destruction with the Giuliani on Thursday, offered to donate
the money and then gave opinions on the Middle East that the
mayor opposed.
In response to a question, Annan said: "I was surprised
that that happened. We are all entitled to freedom of
expression, the prince gave his opinion.
"And I'm surprised the mayor reacted so strongly in
returning the check," he told a news conference after the Nobel
Prize Committee in Norway awarded him and the United United
Nations its centennial peace prize.
The prince on Thursday said: "The government of the United
States of America should re-examine its policies in the Middle
East and adopt a more balanced stance toward the Palestinian
cause," adding:
"Our Palestinian brethren continue to be slaughtered at the
hands of Israelis while the world turns the other cheek."
In response, the mayor said: "Not only are those statements
wrong, they are part of the problem."
In Dubai on Friday, a statement issued by the Kingdom
Holding Company, of which Prince Alwaleed is chairman, said:
"Although Prince Alwaleed in his statement strongly denounced
terrorism, his stance on the U.S. foreign policy was not to the
liking of Mayor Giuliani and some U.S. media."
REUTERS
*** end of story *** |
