RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 11 (UPI) -- Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz has hailed the oil-rich kingdom's relations with the United States, describing them as excellent.
Sultan was quoted Monday as saying that the scheduled visit of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah to Washington on April 25 "reflects the good relations and the will of cooperation between the two countries to serve Saudi interest first of all."
Sultan added, "The Saudi crown prince represents the Arab nation as well as the Muslim world and every move he makes is in the service of Islam and Muslims."
Saudi-U.S. relations went through an uneasy and strained phase following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington in which 19 Saudis were involved.
