Ain-Al-Yaqeen - March 12, 2004

		March 12, 2004

IN A SPEECH BEFORE THE EUROPEAN SAUDI RELATIONS SYMPOSIUM:
PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL: ISLAM IS NOT THE ENEMY OF THE WEST AND ONE CAN NOT DISMISS A 1400-YEAR-OLD CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION BY STIGMATIZING IT AS MERELY A HATCHERY FOR TERRORISM.
HISTORY PROVES THE FAILURE OF CHANGES IMPOSED FROM ABROAD.
THE HELSINKI ACCORDS RESULTED IN THE BREAKING OF THE SOVIET UNION SO IF THIS IS PRESENTED AS A LURE TO THE ARAB COUNTRIES, WE REALLY DON'T SEE MUCH LURE IN.
THE COMMITTEE FORMED BY THE BEIRUT SUMMIT TO ENSURE INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR PRINCE ABDULLAH'S INITIATIVE IS TO BE REVIVED.
THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ARAB LEAGUE: PRINCE ABDULLAH'S INITIATIVE IS ALIVE AND THERE IS NO NEED FOR NEW INITIATIVES.

Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is yet to be officially informed of a new US initiative to promote democracy in the Arab world. He said the initiative would be taken up at an Arab summit in Tunis on March 29-30.

Speaking after talks with French President Jacques Chirac, the Saudi minister said the Tunis summit would also discuss a Saudi Middle East peace plan, adopted at an Arab League summit in Beirut two years ago.

The Saudi plan offers to normalize Arab relations with Israel in return for full withdrawal from territories seized in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

"We hear the press talk of this US initiative but we have not received anything official about it," the prince said. "Since it concerns the Middle East, it will certainly be discussed at the Arab League summit."

Prince Saud said his talks with Chirac had emphasized the "broad convergence of views between Saudi Arabia and France."

A French presidential spokeswoman said Chirac and Prince Saud Al-Faisal had agreed that any democratic initiative for the Arab world should be pursued in parallel with a revival of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

"France and Saudi Arabia share the view that an initiative aimed at backing modernization and reform in the Arab and Muslim world must necessarily be coupled with a revival of a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem," she said.

Prince Saud was on a European trip of France, Belgium, Switzerland and Poland. The trip aimed at reviving the road map which targets the creation of a Palestinian state in 2005 but which has made little progress since its launch in June.

Neither Chirac nor the presidential spokeswoman reacted publicly to a statement made by Prince Saud in Bern. The prince accused the international community of double standards regarding nuclear weapons in the Middle East since it did not question Israel's nuclear arms.

A French foreign policy source noted, however, that Chirac "was aware of the statement" and that "on a personal basis" he shared Prince Saud's concern.

The foreign policy source said Chirac "would inevitably have to deal with the issue of Israeli nuclear weapons, if only because it was France which in the 1950s played a pivotal role in providing Israel with the materials that allowed it to build its first nuclear devices and permitted Tel Aviv to construct its nuclear testing facility at Dimona."

The Saudi Foreign Minister also suggested that he was not opposed to the terms of a Middle East plan put forward by French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin.

Prince Saud also emphasized Saudi Arabia's efforts to institute comprehensive reforms covering economic, political, educational, judicial and administrative fields.

Meanwhile Prince Saud Al-Faisal said he was skeptical about US efforts to promote democracy in the Arab world and warned against demanding too-quick reforms in the Kingdom.

"We would like to learn from you but we would like you not to impose things on us," Prince Saud said in a speech at the European Policy Center, singling out the US ambassador to the European Union, Rockwell Schnabel, in the audience several times.

"Even in your schools you prevent the use of the cane to teach students," he added.

The Prince said he was hoping for more information from the Bush administration about reports that it is preparing to launch this June a "Greater Middle East Initiative" modeled on the 1975 "Helsinki pact," which the West used to press for greater freedoms and human rights behind the Iron Curtain.

"The results on the Soviet Union we all know," Prince Saud said. "It was broken up, it suffered economic deprivations, its people the unhappiest people for at least two decades.

"So if this is presented as a lure to the Arab countries, we really don't see much lure in the Helsinki accords."

Prince Saud cited homegrown efforts already underway in the Kingdom toward modernization and limited reform, citing statistics showing more females in Saudi high schools than boys today and nearly 1 million Internet connections as examples.

"Saudi Arabia has the largest digital access within the Arab world," he said.

He said reforms were being enacted with "deliberate speed," which he defined as "speed that does not push you to irresponsible actions before people are ready to absorb them, nor delay to the extent that you kill" the reforms.

"Gradual change may seem slow or less impressive to some," he said. "But if reforms are to endure and be effective, they have to respond to the will of the people and maintain the unity of the nation."

Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, has confirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has met formidable challenges over its recent history with a steady increase in its ability to adapt and change without damaging the basic fabric of its society.

In his speech before the European Saudi Relations symposium, organized by the European Union Policy Center in Brussels, Prince Saud said the Islamic political thought in general is based on the primacy of the nation and that Islam is considered a safeguard that can be the most effective deterrent against extremism and chaos.

Following is the text of the lecture:

It is indeed a great pleasure for me to be with you today and to address this Center of European Policies. I thank the organizers of this meeting for the opportunity to explore avenues of understanding and cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the European Union, the Arab World in general, and the world of Islam beyond.

History, geography and basic common sense provide ample rationale for recognizing the value and practicality of building a strong and viable partnership between us.

The benefits of free trade, economic globalization, and technological advances argue the point. We need frequent communication and more candid dialogue to understand each other better.

This is especially necessary now that both regions have been overtaken by events that challenge pre-conceived attitudes and assumptions.

Let us not allow the political, cultural, and religious misunderstandings of the past to continue and affect adversely the future.

It is my intention today to suggest to you some thoughts that may be useful to begin this process.

From the outset let me state our strong and clear conviction that change and reform are necessary in the Arab World if we are to truly advance.

Such reforms action must begin at home to insure the welfare of the people by providing good governance and equality in the eyes of the law.

Islam, as a religion, a culture, and a way of life, will certainly have to play a pivotal role in maintaining the social and political bonds during this otherwise turbulent period. I hope to show the relevance of this point despite the prevailing Western view that Islam is an obstacle to modernization.

Over the past several years, Saudi Arabia has initiated a process of reform that we hope would pave the way for a brighter and enriching future for our people. These reforms are comprehensive in scope, integrated in implementation, and they are to be realized with deliberate speed.

We are fully aware that partial, minor, and isolated reforms are not sufficient to meet the challenges, or to develop the opportunities the future holds. Rather, what is needed is a comprehensive reform program that includes political, legal, administrative, economic, and educational components; hence the need for deliberation.

Our political and institutional reforms have so far included the enactment of the Basic Regulation of Governance, (which defines the rights of the citizens and the duties and obligations of the Government), the establishment of Consultative Council and regional councils, and a timetable for municipal elections.

Our administrative reforms included the restructuring of public administration such as the Supreme Petroleum Council and the establishment of new institutions such as the Supreme Economic Council, the Investment Authority, and the Tourism Commission.

Judicial reforms are of paramount importance. They include new regulations covering judicial procedures and the establishment of the Independent Public Prosecution Authority.

Our regulatory reforms include more than Twenty-five new legislations on foreign investments, insurance, financial markets, taxes, and control of money laundering and other fiscal irregularities. New and effective measures are being introduced to eliminate corruption.

Our economic restructuring reforms include the establishment of regulatory agencies to accelerate privatization in the fields of communications and information technology, water and electricity, the establishment of industrial and technological zones, and financial markets.

Saudi Arabia is actively seeking to join the World Trade Organization, and has successfully completed many rounds of bilateral negotiations including an agreement with the European Union.

Saudi Arabia has emphasized the need for regional reforms by actively promoting the recent establishment of a Custom Union within the Gulf Cooperation Council, and by proposing a comprehensive reform pact in the Arab League with strong emphasis on concrete steps towards the establishment of an Arab Free Trade Zone by 2005.

It is axiomatic that reform is not an end in itself, but rather a means to an end. To be effective and sustainable, reforms must meet-among other requirements- three basic criteria:

I. That the reform contemplated shall address the specific needs of the community.

II. That the reforms meet with popular approval and consent as much as possible.

III. That the reforms take into consideration the due process and cause no drastic social upheavals and unnecessary hardship.

For reform is not a mere slogan or a field for risky experimentation. It is an on going process where adaptability and continuity are essential.

Within this framework Saudi Arabia is trying to evolve and adopt reforms rather than imposing them from above, taking into account the diverse views of its people, while maintaining the unity of the country and the cohesion of its society.

As a consequence The Center for National Dialogue was established with a broad agenda including, but not limited to; reassessment of the standards of education, dealing with the emergence of extremism, the essential role women should play in society, and institutional development. Diversity and tolerance are the guiding principles. So far two rounds of talks have taken place successfully. Those who attended included individuals, advocates of numerous and diverse views from different regions of the country as well as representatives of the various religious factions of Islam in Saudi Arabia, with strong participation of Saudi women.

It is noteworthy that the Independent Commission for Human Rights was established; all organs of Government will be accountable to it in case of any breaches or complaints. Its independence is assured by its administrative and financial autonomy

The corner stone of our reform effort is firmly rooted in the area of human resource development, with special emphasis on female education and employment.

In the early 1960s the Government introduced modern education for women for the First time, despite active opposition and misgivings by traditionalists. Today, the openness of Saudi society is attested to by some hard facts:

49% of the 4.3 million students in general education are female.

The number of female high school students exceeds that of males.

More than a third of all government civilian jobs are occupied by women. Which is, by the way, not far from prevailing figures in some European countries.

Along with the progress in education, there is progress in health care. Life expectancy at birth increased from 54 years in 1975 to 71 years in 2000, making Saud Arabia among the three countries with the highest rate of increase in life expectancy in the world according to UN statistics.

In the field of communication there are almost eleven million telephone lines at a rate of 47 lines for every 100 persons and nearly a million participants in the Internet. Saudi Arabia has the largest digital access within the Arab World. Our youth are in contact with their counterpart in this new and more open society. The Government is taking effective measures to remove all restrictions on access to information.

Our reform efforts, though implemented gradually, are cumulative in effect. Gradual change may seem slow or less impressive to some, but if reforms are to endure and be effective, they have to respond to the will of the people and maintain the unity of the nation.

In the past formidable challenges were met with a steady increase in our ability to adapt and change without damaging the basic fabric of our society.

So called "experts" predicted us in the 1950's and 1960's that revolutionary regimes in the region will bring about the collapse of our State.

In the 1970's and 1980's we were told that huge oil revenues would have permanent destabilizing effects on the underpinnings of our society and our social and political structure and institutions.

In the last decade of the previous century we were told that external threats coupled with declining oil revenues will doom our very existence as a stable and developing nation.

And now we are told that our society consists basically of zealots and fanatics; who cannot recognize their problems let alone solve them. In short, our demise continues to be arbitrarily predicted.

It is true that we faced formidable challenges in the past, and that current developments confront us with serious issues. Yet, the dynamics of history provide great challenges as well as immense opportunities.

Is it therefore beyond the realm of possibility that those experts who continue to predict doom and gloom scenarios for us have misjudged and underestimated the resiliency of Saudi Arabia, or the adaptability and creativity of our society??

Facts speak for themselves. We are still here and I predict, God willing, here we shall remain.

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests,

While it is true that there is a need for reform in the Arab World, historical precedents attest to the fact that change cannot be imposed from without. This is particularly the case when a largely Western historical experience is projected on a different setting, such as the Islamic World or Saudi Arabia.

Take the issue of secularism for instance. This proposed remedy to our problems will certainly herald the most unpredictable and uncontainable consequences, given both the actualities of faith and the level of adherence to religious values throughout the Islamic world, particularly in Saudi Arabia.

The majority of critics who are pro- secularization draw upon an extrinsic, albeit diverse, Western historical experience, wherein the Church had exerted considerable political power and control. It is this historical precedent that is transposed to the different setting of the Islamic World, and to Saudi Arabia in particular.

For the vast majority of Muslims, religion is not the basis for a theocratic rule, but rather a necessary moral check on the misuse of power by governments while providing Muslims with a sense of community, in Arabic: (Ummah). Religion is the most essential element in the unity and cohesiveness of Muslim societies.

Proposals for immediate secularization will not put an end to the influence of religion; rather they would, in all likelihood, create a vacuum that will be filled by extremists.

In fact, the revolutionary fundamentalists of today and their extreme manifestations are much more the product of Western secular trends and cultural influence, with the rebellious and individualist values it instills, than of Islamic religious education and Islamic values and traditions of the Ummah.

Individualism in Islamic tradition has never been expressed in political terms. Islamic political thought in general is based on the primacy of the community (again the Ummah), rather than that of the individual.

In fact, individualism has been seen as the harbinger of (fitna) or apostasy. Today's Islamic extremist political streak was influenced by, and indeed imitates, the radical ideology that prevailed in the West in the previous century.

Therefore, there should be no fear of Islam as a religion or of the strong ties of Muslims to their faith. On the contrary, Islam is a safeguard that can be the most effective deterrent against extremism and chaos. We should not allow a small minority of renegades to tarnish the image of this great religion, and remove our most effective weapon against them from our hands.

The idée fix in the West that religion is restricting or preventing Muslims from modernization is not only wrong, but suggests an enduring determination to cast the Arab or Muslim in the age old stereotype of the backward uncivilized and superstitious character, who should be dragged kicking and screaming to the presumably high standards of reason that propels Western Civilization.

The legacy of the colonial era in the Arab World, including the notion of the white man's burden, This notion gives ample proof that applying readily available solutions from the outside just does not work.

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests,
The framework for mutual understanding and cooperation is there. What is needed is the good will and dedication to implement it. We must not allow a minority of terrorists and extremists to fill the minds of our youth with hatred, bigotry, and stereotyping. It is high time that we all assume our joint responsibility in this regard.

Arab youth, representing the vast majority of Arab citizens, have many attributes in common with their European counterparts. They have similar hopes and aspirations for a better future, similar wishes and dreams, and even similar fears and anxieties.

More often than not, they watch the same films, read the same books, listen to the same music, and surf the same web sites on the Internet.

Making use of the great innovations in communications and information technologies, we should be able to build on these common denominators and defeat the irrational messages of extremism, terrorism, and racism.

The battle for the hearts and minds of the youth can and must be won. Extremists on both sides can only succeed by alienating us from each other. We should spare no effort in emphasizing the shared community of interests between Europeans and Arabs, in increasing the opportunities of common understanding and human contacts, and in identifying the vast and multi- faceted areas of possible cooperation that would allow us to view our future with optimism.

We can give a strong impetus to this process if we cooperate to return to the road of peaceful negotiations. The two-state initiative for the Arab- Israeli conflict provides an urgently needed solution. Blaming the Palestinians alone is neither fair nor practical.

As is well known His Royal Highness Crown Prince Abdullah proposed a peace initiative, which was unanimously adopted by the Beirut Summit. The initiative is a realistic peace plan that compliments the Quartet's Road Map. We should recommit our efforts to the peace process particularly now when the civil societies on both sides of the divide are pressing their public opinion to accept a peaceful settlement. Such an opportunity should not be lost.

Human development and economic prosperity are the key to a better future in the Middle East. Both the European Community and the Arab World have a great deal to gain from that pursuit, and it would go a long way in cementing our cooperation to bring peace and stability to this troubled region.

Occupation, the cycle of violence, extremism and terror must come to an end. This urgently needed result can only be attained if we work together to achieve a better understanding, build greater cooperation, and arrive at fair and just policies.

Re-occupying Palestinian territories, continuing the daily humiliation of the population, building settlements and walls so as to unilaterally create new facts on the ground, implementing the policies of targeted assassinations, demolishing homes and uprooting irreplaceable ancient olive grooves, multiplying road blocks and settlements; all these are illegal according to the Geneva Convention and are hostile acts that make it extremely difficult to enable any Palestinian Government to function effectively, let alone to take the needed difficult decisions, or to convince Palestinians that the other side is truly committed to peace.

International cooperation is also needed in Iraq. This cooperation should be based on meeting the practical needs of the Iraqi people. The participation of all the nations who are capable of contributing in such an effort, under the umbrella of the United Nations, should be encouraged. The Iraqi people, after decades of suffering deserve stability, freedom and prosperity. Their needs can only be met by a representative political system that is based on national unity and not on sectarian or ethnic cleavages.

It is not, Ladies and Gentlemen, unrealistic to hope for an end to widespread misinformation between us, to respect each other's history and culture, to move beyond negative stereotyping and discrimination, and to advance public awareness of the significance of Arab- European cooperation. It is certainly appropriate for us to cooperate to bring peace to a region racked by turmoil. The benefits for both of us are enormous.

In this small planet of ours we cannot avoid each other nor should we. It does not take a stretch of the imagination to see what great things we can achieve if we mobilize our collective resources for the benefit of our peoples.

At the risk of further taxing your patience, allow me a final comment:

You just cannot dismiss a 1400-year-old culture and civilization by stigmatizing it as merely a hatchery for terrorism.

Islam and Muslims are not the enemy. Injustice and deprivation inflicted upon the Arab and Islamic world are the true breeding ground for terrorism. These are the real enemies.

In the struggle against these evils, we must be partners, who, sharing the same objectives, are still able to recognize and allow for diversity.

If we can transcend our prejudices, and nurture our tolerance, we can achieve great things; the schisms that divided us in the past must be bridged.

It is folly to accuse each other of being the root of all evil.

It is wisdom to come together for the first time, dedicated to the proposition not to misrepresent, misunderstand, or misuse our energies, but rather to clarify, comprehend, and combine our efforts.

We must not fight the wrong battle; and must forswear dissention. Our quarrel is not with each other. Let us join forces instead against the uncivilized, the criminal, and the unjust.

Let us resolve to commit ourselves to this fight, and together eradicate, not only the scourge of terrorism, but also the very conditions that breed it.

Thank you again for this opportunity and may God peace be upon you.

On the other hand Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, met with Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations in the political and economic fields.

Prince Saud and his Swiss counterpart held a press conference following their meeting. The Swiss minister said that talks with Prince Saud were excellent and tackled the Middle East peace process, the Crown Prince's Middle East peace initiative and the peace process complementary efforts sought by Switzerland.

Prince Saud saluted the Swiss efforts and thanked the Swiss government. He stated, "We hope efforts in the Middle East will culminate in establishing just and comprehensive peace and implementing the international peace plan and its supplementary efforts of the Palestinian civil society efforts known as the Geneva Initiative." Prince Saud also held meetings with Swiss president Joseph Deiss and other officials.

Meanwhile Amr Moussa, Secretary General of the Arab League, told reporters: "The Arab world wants to see some honesty in dealing with the Palestinian issue so that it can believe that any initiatives proposed do not spring from blind bias towards Israel."

The head of the Arab League said the Arab world is ready to make peace with Israel if it meets its obligations, such as abandoning its West Bank security fence.

Amr Moussa, Secretary-General of the 22-member league, reiterated the Saudi-backed plan approved by his organization in 2002 calling for a comprehensive peace with Israel.

"We are ready to live in peace in the Middle East with the state of Israel provided that the state of Israel will respect its obligations," Moussa said.

He conditioned peace on a full withdrawal from occupied lands and an independent Palestinian state.

Moussa spoke on the opening day of the International Court of Justice hearings into the Israeli barrier.

Moussa said the continued construction of the barrier is threatening the chances for peace.

"The question of the wall is seriously affecting the future settlement, if any. It confirms the attitude of the occupying power. They want to annex territories, to partition, divide the territory and make it difficult for the people to live there," he said.

The Secretary General of the Arab League also rejected Israel's argument that the world court case is undermining the internationally backed "road map" peace plan.

"The road map doesn't function because of the reservations that Israel has put," he said.

The initial stages of the road map call on Israel to halt settlement activity in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, while the Palestinians are required to dismantle terrorist groups and reform the Palestinian Authority. Israel has hinged its compliance on the Palestinian crackdown.

Saudi officials have recently indicated that they would try to revive the plan at an upcoming summit of the Arab League.

On the other hand in an interview with "Le Figaro" the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique de Villepin said: Together with our European partners, we've been working on the region's problems and following developments there for a long time. The stakes are considerable: economic development and its consequences for emigration, job training, the place of women in society, and greater openness, especially on the political front.

We believe that you should start with the needs and expectations of the countries in the Middle East and not try to dictate solutions. So it is important to involve them in our discussions at as early a stage as possible, so there's a real partnership. You also need to avoid an approach that is too uniform: you can't treat the Maghreb, the Middle East and the Gulf States the same way. Nor must everything be focused on security issues. If our approach is to be successful it has to be comprehensive and take into account all the aspects political, economic, social, cultural, educational, etc. Otherwise, our initiative might be perceived as being motivated solely by our security interests rather than our wish to see the region develop. Lastly, if we want to be credible, we can't ignore the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Recreating a dynamic for peace is an indispensable condition for any initiative in the region.

The Minister went on to say Europe is a natural partner of the region. Owing to its geographic proximity, it has built up deep ties with these countries. A Euro-Mediterranean policy was implemented as early as the 1970s; the Barcelona Process was launched in 1995 and cooperation agreements with the Gulf States have been signed. We must modernize our instruments and make them more effective. We want to work with our American friends to make the most of the ways our approaches can complement each other. We must also work in partnership with the countries in the region. We are opposed to strategies devised by an uneasy West trying to impose ready-made solutions from the outside.

We want quickly to launch a large-scale consultation on the Middle East. With our European partners to begin with: France wants this topic to be placed on the agenda of forthcoming European meetings, starting with the March European Council. Then with the countries of the region, notably through our dialogue with the Arab League. And finally with our major partners, particularly within the G8 framework.

In concrete terms the minister I see three main areas: the political dialogue, first of all, in order to move forward in the spheres of democracy, good governance and human rights; next, economic and social development, to introduce the necessary structural reforms; and finally, support for efforts by civil society to encourage an inter-cultural dialogue. This cooperation could lead to a general declaration setting out the principles of a true "partnership for peace and progress." It would have to define the major categories of action to be taken for the entire region, which would range from the non-use of force, for example, to the strengthening of educational systems. In this framework, we could modernize the instruments that already exist within the EU, such as the Barcelona Process and the dialogue with the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Asked whether the United States seems to want to concretize its idea of a "Greater Middle East" at the June summits the NATO summit in Istanbul and the G8... The minister said indeed, there will be those two major meetings in June. Each will have to deal with the Middle East within its own terms of reference. The main thing is for Europe and the United States to act in close agreement, and most importantly, in close cooperation with the countries of the region.