| Saudis deny oil prices tied to bush election { April 20 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-04-20-saudi-us_x.htmhttp://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-04-20-saudi-us_x.htm
Last Updated: Tuesday, 20 April, 2004, 14:03 GMT 15:03 UK
Saudis deny oil prices tied to U.S. vote RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi Arabia has denied accusations that it has an agreement with the White House to increase oil production closer to the Nov. 2 election, thus driving down gasoline prices. "The allegation that the kingdom is manipulating the price of oil for political purposes or to affect elections is erroneous and has no basis in fact," said a statement issued in Riyadh by top Saudi foreign policy adviser Adel al-Jubeir. (Related story: Kerry criticizes gas deal)
"Over the past 30 years, the kingdom has sought to ensure adequate supplies of crude at moderate price levels that are acceptable to both producers and consumers. This policy is consistent, and independent of who is in power within consuming countries, including the U.S.," al-Jubeir added.
CBS's 60 Minutes reported Sunday night that Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward said Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the Saudi ambassador to Washington, promised Bush that Saudi Arabia will lower oil prices in the months before the election to ensure the U.S. economy is strong on Election Day.
"That's the Saudi pledge," Woodward told 60 Minutes for a report on his book about the Iraq war, Plan of Attack, to be released Tuesday. "Certainly over the summer or as we get closer to the election they could increase production several million barrels a day and the price would drop significantly."
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry referred to the allegations on oil production on Monday.
"If it is true that gas supplies and prices in America are tied to the American election, tied to a secret White House deal, that is outrageous and unacceptable to the American people," Kerry said.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the Saudi ambassador to Washington, visited the White House in April and that Bush keeps in touch with oil-producing nations.
"We've made our views very clear, that oil prices should be determined by market forces," McClellan said.
Bandar said there was no plan to increase oil production.
In his statement, al-Jubeir said it was "natural for any administration to discuss the status of oil markets when prices spike.
"If the spikes are a function of shortages of supply, we rectify it with the other producers. If they are a function of other factors, we try to deal with them accordingly," he said.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, of which Saudi Arabia is a leading member, had announced at the end of March that it would cut its crude oil production target by 4%. That decision was expected to push prices higher — and U.S. motorists already have been paying the highest prices in recent years for gasoline.
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