The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“SAUDI ARABIA STILL DELAYS PAYMENT TO UNITED STATES COMPANY” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1256 on June 15, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SAUDI ARABIA STILL DELAYS PAYMENT TO UNITED STATES COMPANY
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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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