Giuliani rejects $10m offer from Arab Prince
Friday, 12 October 2001 15:23
The Mayor of New York has rejected a gift of $10m for relief efforts in the city from a prominent member of Saudi Arabia's ruling family.
On a visit to the city, Prince al-Walid bin Talal, a nephew of King Fahd, called the destruction of the World Trade Centre a tremendous crime.
But in a separate written statement, he said that the United States should reconsider it policies in the Middle East and adopt a more balanced stance towards the Palestinians.
"I love America, and the American is my friend - but the Palestinian is my brother," the Prince said in an interview. He said that his huge investments in the United States, including stakes in Citigroup, AOL Time Warner and News Corp, would not be affected.
Mayor Rudy Giuliani said such remarks were irresponsible and dangerous, and the cheque would not be accepted.
