March 19, 2004

A FRUITFUL VISIT OF THE SHOURA DELEGATION TO THE UNITED KINGDOM. THE DELEGATION EXPLAINS SAUDI VIEWS ON THE DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION, THE KINGDOM AND THE WORK OF THE SHOURA COUNCIL. SAUDI MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD NEXT OCTOBER. SHOURA IS NOT OPPOSED TO DEMOCRACY. WOMEN PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE FAMILY, SOCIETY, DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS. Four key members of Saudi Arabia's Shoura Council were in London to discuss the gradual development of political and economic reform in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They also discussed Saudi Arabia's stand against terrorism and developing human rights program with a range of British government officials, members of both houses of Parliament, including Baroness Symons, and key academics and Muslim leaders. The four members of the delegation are Dr. Saleh Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Omeir of the Finance Committee; Dr. Saleh Ibn Abdullah Al-Malik of the Health and Social Affairs Committee; Dr. Abdullah Ibn Yahya Bukhari of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Dr. Massad Ibn Eid Al-Atawi of the Culture and Information Committee. The delegation of the Shoura (consultative council), visiting Britain, held here a press conference attended by the accredited Arab journalists in the United Kingdom. Dr Salih Al-Omeir, the Head of the delegation, briefed the journalists on the outcome the delegation's meetings at the British Foreign Office, the House of Commons and the House of Lords as well as the Institute of the British Engineers and other places. Dr Al-Omeir expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the meetings, and said the delegation had briefed the British side on the positive developments witnessed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the various spheres, and added 'we have also reviewed issues of mutual interest'. Dr Al-Omeir said the delegation had briefed a number of academicians, diplomats and specialists of the Middle East problems at the Royal British Institute for International Affairs on the political, social, and educational developments accomplished in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On his part, member of the Shoura Dr Salih Al-Malik said the Kingdom had known Shoura since the era of its Founder King Abdul Aziz, and said the first Shoura in the country was established in 1926. He noted that the number of the members of the Shoura has jumped from 60 in 1992 to 120. 'Thanks to Almighty Allah, 75 percent of the Shoura's members are PhD holders, and the remaining members are holders of degrees not lower than university degrees', he added. He noted that the final decision as regards naming members of the Shoura is taken by the Kingdom's Ruler. As regards the role of the Saudi women, Dr Al-Omeir said the Saudi women do practice unlimited role in various spheres at the private and public sectors, and added 'the Kingdom's regulations do not impose restrictions on women'. Dr Al-Omeir said membership of the Shoura is currently confined to men, and noted that 'for the time being, it is possible for the Saudi women to play a certain role at the Shoura'. Meanwhile, Dr Salih Al-Malik pointed out that it would be possible for the Saudi women to positively contribute to decision-making at the Shoura through the ladies committee. He noted that the ladies committee was recently formed to make it possible to benefit from the experience of women on affairs of women. Dr Al-Malik said the issue of the participation of the Saudi women at the Shoura or at the municipal elections was under study, and added that 'taking a decision in this respect will not take a long time'. On his part, Dr Al-Omeir refuted allegations which say that 1slam views women as an inferior creatures, and said some people have unfortunately misunderstood the view of Islam to women.' On the other hand, member of the Shoura Dr Abdullah Bukhari said the Saudi women are not marginalized, 'on the contrary they work as teachers, administrators and investors'. At its meeting with the officials of the British Foreign Office, the delegation of the Shoura reviewed bilateral relations, activities of the Muslim community in Britain as well as the issue of human rights and means for combating terrorism. Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland, held a working luncheon for a delegation of the Saudi Shoura Council visiting the United Kingdom and representatives of the British media. During the meeting, they discussed the works and developments of the Shoura Council and the current reformist process in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in all fields. Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland had received the delegation of the Shoura Council. During the meeting, they discussed the delegation's agenda and meetings due to be held with British officials and members of the House of Commons. The Speaker of British House of Commons Michael Martin met with a delegation of the Shoura Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The meeting was attended by Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland and other officials. During the meeting, they discussed topics of mutual concern. Prince Turki Al-Faisal invited the Speaker to visit the Kingdom. In turn, the Speaker thanked the Prince for the invitation. Britain's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Baroness Simons received the delegation of the Shoura Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia headed by Dr. Salih Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Omair. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Dr. Al-Omair said that the meeting dealt with the current developments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, commercial cooperation between the two countries and the situation in the Middle East notably in the Palestinian territories. The delegation of the Saudi Shoura council met with representatives of the British Parliament Committee in charge of relations with the International Parliament. During the meeting, they discussed a number of topics pertaining to the enhancement of relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Britain in addition to the current developments in the Middle East. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency, the Head of the delegation Dr. Salih Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Omair said that the meetings were fruitful. "We confirmed to the representatives the readiness of the Kingdom to face and combat terrorism", he added. Dr. Al-Omair told SPA that the delegation will hold a number of meetings with British representatives. The Saudi-British Friendship Society and the Council of Arab-British Understanding hosted a dinner party in honor of the delegation. The delegation of Saudi Arabia's Shoura (Consultative) Council met delegates of Muslim minorities, Islamic societies and institutions of the United Kingdom. The delegation reviewed with the delegates a number of issues that concern Muslims in Britain as well as Saudi Arabia's progress and development. The delegation included Dr. Saleh Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Omair, Dr. Saleh Ibn Abdullah Al-Malek, Dr. Abdullah Ibn Yahya Bukhari, Dr. Mesaad Ibn Eid Al-Atawi and a number of university professors. The British Royal Institute for International Affairs organized a debate for the delegation of Saudi Shoura Council visiting the United Kingdom. During the debate, the four-member delegation headed by Dr. Salih Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Omair shed light on the achievements of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in all fields along with the authorities entrusted to the Council. The delegation of Saudi Shoura Council headed by Dr. Salih Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Omair currently on visit to Britain met with a number of members of Britain's Houses of Commons and Lords. During the meeting, they discussed topics of mutual concern, ways of enhancing relations and positive developments witnessed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in all fields. The participation of women in the Shoura Council is under study, according to a senior member of the body. Dr. Saleh Al-Malik also said a decision whether women will be able to vote in the planned partial municipal elections would "not take a long time," according to the Saudi Press Agency. Dr Al-Malik was in London as part of a delegation that wants to explain the workings of the Shoura to government officials and journalists in Britain. Dr. Salih Al-Omeir, who heads the delegation, told Arab journalists Saudi Arabia did "not impose restrictions on women." They played an "unlimited role in various spheres in the private and public sectors," he said after meetings in the British House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Foreign Office. Dr Al-Omeir said "for the time being" women contributed to Shoura proceedings only through the recently-formed women's committee. Dr. Abdullah Al-Bukhari, another delegate, also denied women were marginalized in the Kingdom. "On the contrary, they work as teachers, administrators and investors," he said. Dr Al-Omeir rejected claims Islam viewed women as inferior to men and some people "unfortunately misunderstood Islam's view of women," SPA quoted him as saying. He also expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the meetings. At its meeting with Foreign Office officials, the delegation reviewed bilateral relations, the activities of the Muslim community in Britain, human rights and means of combating terrorism. Saudi Arabia's first elections will take place in October and should lead to general elections, senior members of the Shoura Council said. "Elections to the municipal councils will take place next October," Dr. Saleh Al-Malik said. "There is no question of going back on the elections," added Dr Saleh Al-Omeir, who is leading a Shoura delegation visiting London. "The experience of the Shoura and the municipal elections will be a positive factor to establish the idea of elections so that they will become general and not just municipal," the London-based Arabic daily quoted Dr Al-Omeir as saying. Dr Al-Omeir denied suggestions that Saudis are allergic to democracy and said consultation in public matters was a divine order. "There are more similarities between Shoura and democracy than differences," Dr Al-Malik added. Dr Al-Malik also told the Saudi Press Agency that the participation of women in the Shoura Council was under study and that a decision on whether women would be able to vote in the municipal elections would "not take a long time." Saudi Arabia announced last October that the first elections in the Kingdom would take place within a year in order to elect half the members of 14 municipal councils. Semi-official reports have since said elections would be held within three years to fill one-third of the Shoura's 120 seats and that half the members of regional councils would be elected within two years. Saudi reformers as well as participants in the two national dialogue sessions held in Riyadh and Makkah have also asked the government to hold elections to the Shoura. The decision to hold elections was taken at the weekly Cabinet meeting, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz , on the recommendation of Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard. "The Council of Ministers decided to expand the participation of citizens in the administration of local affairs through electing half the members of municipal councils." "The concerned authorities have been told to complete the (election) procedures within a period not exceeding a year," the statement said. The 14 municipalities in which council elections will be held are: Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, Jeddah, the Eastern Province, Asir, Qasim, Jizan, Al-Jouf, Tabuk, Hail, the Northern Border Province, Baha and Najran. The decision to hold municipal elections was in keeping with the policy advocated by King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz and Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to "press ahead on the path of political and administrative reform." Meanwhile Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland, hosted a dinner in honor of the Shoura Council delegation visiting London. The dinner was attended by a number of dignitaries. The primary function of Majlis Al-Shura is to advise the King on issues of importance to the nation. Its members, appointed by the King for a four-year renewable term, represent the spectrum of Saudi society. King Fahd personally inaugurated the first session of the new Council on December 29, 1993. This council consisted of 60 members in addition to the chairman. On July 5, 1997, King Fahd decreed an increase in membership, and the council consisted of a chairman and 90 members. On May 1, 2001, King Fahd decreed an increase in membership, and the council now consists of a chairman and 120 members. Meanwhile The Shoura Council is studying the issue of enforcing highway tolls in the Kingdom in coordination with the Ministry of Transport. In a session closed to the press, Shoura members headed by Dr. Saleh Ibn-Humaid met with Minister of Transport Dr. Jabara Al-Seraisry and his accompanying delegation. The purpose of the visit was to raise directly with Shoura members the issues concerning the possible enforcement of the law and to answer any questions on the matter. During his address to members, the minister explained that careful study went into investigating private sector investment in the construction and maintenance of roads before it was submitted to the Shoura for approval. The resulting study covered development plans, privatization, future road requirements and international comparisons. Dr. Al-Seraisry said in this year's budget the government has allocated SR3.5 billion for road projects. The government had for some time sought private sector participation in infrastructure and public service projects. "The privatization policy targets several sectors, including transport," he said. The minister also noted that it was one of the recommendations of the Riyadh Economic Forum last year that infrastructure should be the cornerstone of any economic development. He said though the Ministry of Finance was generous in its budget allocation for his ministry, state coffers would never be able to meet the constant demands of the sector. "I understand that highway tolls are unpopular and should be avoided as much as possible. But if (introducing the toll) means building more roads to rural areas or maintaining rundown roads, then I suggest that the Shoura seriously look into this matter," the minister said. On the other hand a delegation from the Ministry of Higher Education is in London to explore opportunities for e-learning programs in Saudi Arabia. Allan Smart, a representative of the British Council in the Kingdom, said the delegates would look at various aspects of e-education and distance learning programs in the UK to see what can be done to launch them through Saudi academic institutions. The move comes as Saudi students experience growing problems in the West. Last year, over 15,500 Saudis were pursuing higher education abroad, according to Dr. Abdullah Al-Moajel, who is in charge of the cultural relations department at the Ministry of Higher Education. Of the total enrollment for higher education abroad, 6,744 students went on government scholarships, while the remaining 8,772 students went at their own expense. Smart said the delegation would report back to the Minister of Higher Education Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari. "We briefed the delegates on some aspects of e-education and distance-learning programs that might be relevant here. We are certainly not in the business of transferring one system to another place, but there may be something that, we believe, could be useful to the Saudi authorities. Distance learning will become an integral part of academic life in Saudi Arabia." Smart said a good example had been set by the Arab Open University in Jeddah, which has been working in collaboration with British Open University.