Article: Saudi Arabia to put its money where its national interests are

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia The no-questions-asked days of Saudi Arabia's checkbook diplomacy are quickly coming to an end.

Dismayed that some of the world's top recipients of Saudi aid sided with Iraq during the Persian Gulf war, kingdom officials have reversed one of this nation's longstanding policies. From now on, Saudi Arabia will be more selective about the millions of dollars it regularly dishes out to other countries and causes.

"Our money will be directed by our national interests," said Abdulrahman Zamel, deputy commerce minister. "Where we think our national interest is served, our money shall go."

The war forced Saudi government strategists to rethink their foreign aid policy as ...

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