Reforms to Suit Saudi Needs

Arab News ^ | 6/21/04 | Abdul Wahab Bashir

[Valin]

RIYADH, 21 June 2004 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd pledged yesterday Saudi Arabia would tailor reforms to its own needs and set out a comprehensive package to foster economic growth.

The king’s annual policy address to the Shoura Council recalled a promise of partial municipal elections, but did not set a date for the first ever poll in the country — in principle due to take place later this year.

The speech reiterated that Saudi Arabia was introducing the reforms it perceives as adequate — a reference to the government’s view that reform must come from within and not necessarily follow a Western pattern.

“Saudi Arabia is pressing ahead on the path of development and modernization in a manner compatible with the interests of its people, its needs, its specifics, its Arab identity and of Shariah,” on which the entire system is based, the speech said.

The speech said the Shoura Council had been given powers to propose legislation, that a National Dialogue Center had been established to promote public debate and a human rights committee set up.

“Moreover, the Cabinet issued a decision to broaden citizens’ participation in local affairs through elections, by activating municipal councils,” the speech said.

The government promised in October 2003 to organize elections within a year to elect half the members of new municipal councils. Reports around that time said elections would also be held within three years to fill one third of the Shoura Council’s 120 seats and that half the members of regional councils could be elected within two years.

The king’s address said Saudi Arabia would continue to implement economic reforms aimed at attracting foreign investment, boosting the private sector and diversifying the oil-based economy of the Kingdom.

Listing the goals of the eighth Five Year Development Plan for 2005-2010, the king highlighted the privatization drive and the government’s efforts to broaden the economic base, referring in particular to the opening of the gas sector to foreign investment.

The Kingdom, which sits on the fourth largest gas reserves in the world, concluded deals with a number of international oil consortiums. Investment in the industrial sector exceeds SR254.5 billion.

“Human resource development remains the cornerstone of the country’s economic and social policy, with the government steadily increasing spending on education, health and social services and working to provide high quality services,” the speech said.

The king’s speech also highlighted the role of women in economic and social development, saying the state would work to empower women and broaden their participation in the country’s development process by providing more jobs and ensuring they play a more active role in public affairs.

He pointed out the government set up a higher commission on women’s affairs, guaranteed women participation in the recent National Dialogue Forum in Madinah and in the National Human Rights Commission and would consolidate this participation further.

The Saudization campaign was also part of the government’s efforts to boost per capita income in the Kingdom, the speech said. “Efforts are being made for the nationalization of jobs and reducing unemployment resulting from a discrepancy in the job market and the presence of large numbers of non-Saudi workers.”

Saudization efforts were accompanied “by a constant revision of education and training policies.”

King Fahd’s address warned terrorists the government would not allow them to destabilize the country.

“We will not allow a subversive group driven by deviant thinking to undermine this country’s security or destabilize it.”

“The deep cohesion between the leadership and the people, the vigilance of security forces and the valiant efforts of everyone to preserve this country’s security will prevent them from achieving their goals,” the speech said, denouncing “the terrorist acts that terrorized people and claimed lives.”

The address added terrorism was “corruption on earth” and though Muslims were responsible for some terrorist acts that happened in the world, Islam has nothing to do with such acts and behavior. “Islam is free of such acts and the Muslim has nothing to do with these actions and has no sympathy for those who carry them out. Islam is the religion of peace, love and tolerance. It calls for doing good and refraining from anything evil and encourages understanding and peaceful coexistence while strongly warning against injustice and aggression.”

On the Kingdom’s foreign policy, the speech also took up the issue of Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, denouncing recent developments like the building of a separation wall cutting deep into Palestinian land, and Israel’s policy of “targeted assassination” and demolition of Palestinian homes.

The speech described Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s Gaza withdrawal plan as an attempt to “unilaterally create new realities on the ground.”

“All these Israeli policies are an obstacle to reaching a just, comprehensive and lasting peace,” the speech said.

On Iraq, the speech said there was an urgent need for international cooperation to allow Iraq’s return to the Arab and international arena as a fully sovereign country living in peace and stability.

[Valin]

The Religious Policeman A Saudi man's diary of life in the "Magic Kingdom", where the Religious Police ensure that everything remains as it was in the Middle Ages. http://muttawa.blogspot.com/
Royal Rubbish Temporarily disconnected from most of his pipework, King Fahad inspires us with his vision for the future.

Actually, it looks as though Abdullah, on the left, is operating the Johnny Walker pump

Reforms to Suit Saudi Needs

RIYADH, 21 June 2004 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd pledged yesterday Saudi Arabia would tailor reforms to its own needs and set out a comprehensive package to foster economic growth.

That's the Good News

The king’s annual policy address to the Shoura Council recalled a promise of partial municipal elections, but did not set a date for the first ever poll in the country — in principle due to take place later this year.

...and that's the Bad News. The first faltering steps towards democracy, the "partial municipal elections", had been promised in October 2003 to tke place within a year. Obviously it's not going to happen. "In Principle" must mean they would have taken place, had they been promised by someone with principles, and not promised by an unprincipled liar.

Oh well, give him another shot of Red Label. Let's see what else comes out.

The speech reiterated that Saudi Arabia was introducing the reforms it perceives as adequate — a reference to the government’s view that reform must come from within and not necessarily follow a Western pattern.

“Saudi Arabia is pressing ahead on the path of development and modernization in a manner compatible with the interests of its people, its needs, its specifics, its Arab identity and of Shariah,” on which the entire system is based, the speech said.

What Reforms? There aren't any Reforms! There are zero Reforms! So what are the "reforms it perceives as adequate"?

The government promised in October 2003 to organize elections within a year to elect half the members of new municipal councils. Reports around that time said elections would also be held within three years to fill one third of the Shoura Council’s 120 seats and that half the members of regional councils could be elected within two years.

...and now you've cancelled them. So what Reforms? Give him another shot.

He pointed out the government set up a higher commission on women’s affairs, guaranteed women participation in the recent National Dialogue Forum in Madinah and in the National Human Rights Commission and would consolidate this participation further.

Ah well, the National Dialogue Forum was a great success, it agreed to change nothing, the "team photo" had no women in, anyone with any sense left in tears. It was about as successful as our soccer team in the World Cup, and ten times as boring. So that was this year's reform?

. (glug) . (glug) . (yawn) . (zzzzz....)

Afraid so. Looks like that's it for another year. No reform, no modernization. Just inertia, decay, and destruction from within by religious lunatics. Welcome to Saudi Arabia 2004.

Time for a vacation.

Posted by: Alhamedi / 3:42 PM| Comments (7)