Wyche Fowler, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Washington-based Middle East Institute, and a former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said the death of King Fahd was a "sad occasion" . In a statement released Friday by the Middle East Institute, Fowler said King Fahd "played a pivotal role as a nation-builder and in regional and global politics." "As U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia from l996 until March 2001, I had a unique opportunity to observe firsthand and appreciate Fahd's leadership' he said and added "The sad occasion of his death allows us to reflect anew on how much the strong U.S.-Saudi relationship and Saudi political stability grew out of his initiatives and policies." "The Late King should be remembered gratefully as a steadfast ally who played an important role vis-a-vis the peace process in the Middle East through his peace initiative in 1982.' Fowler highlighted Fahd's role in solidifying the Saudi-U.S. cooperation, and pointed out to the King's leadership during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the liberation process of Kuwait. "With his passing the United States loses a friend but gains in Abdullah a leader of experience and wisdom, and a King committed to continued reforms in his country and expanded friendship with the United States."
