Ain-Al-Yaqeen - October 14, 2005

		October 14, 2005

PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE WORLD'S LEADERS:
SAUDI ARABIA CONTRIBUTES ON AVERAGE FOUR PERCENT OF ITS ANNUAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT FOR DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE TO 83 DEVELOPING COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND WE CALL ON THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES TO HONOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO ALLOCATE 0.7 PERCENT OF THEIR GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT TO DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE.
THE CROWN PRINCE STRESSES THAT DEALING WITH THE PHENOMENON OF EXTREMISM, SHOULD NOT BE CONFINED TO THE MERE SECURITY ASPECT OF IT BUT SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE AN INTELLECTUAL APPROACH.
THE ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL FROM GAZA SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY FURTHER WITHDRAWALS FROM THE PALESTINIAN AND ARAB OCCUPIED TERRITORIES SINCE 1967, AND LEAD TO THE REALIZATION OF AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE WITH EAST JERUSALEM AS ITS CAPITAL.

Saudi Arabia called for reforms in the United Nations in order for the world body to play a more effective role in maintaining peace and stability across the globe. It also demanded restrictions on the veto power of the permanent members of the UN Security Council and joint global efforts to combat terrorism.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Aviation, also urged developed countries to open their markets to developing countries. "They should also facilitate accession of other countries, including my country, to the World Trade Organization (WTO), offering adequate flexibility considering their situations," he said.

"The Kingdom appreciates the vital role of UN bodies and expects that the current efforts to reform the United Nations would strengthen these bodies and increase their vitality. We also support an international consensus on the expansion of the Security Council and restriction of its veto power. It should not be allowed veto resolutions related to implementing its previous decisions," the prince said.

Prince Sultan also called for the restoration of the powers of the UN General Assembly. "Everybody must adhere to the UN Charter to achieve peace and stability and there should not be double standard while adopting resolutions," he said. He stressed the need to make the Middle East and the Gulf free of weapons of mass destruction.

In his address, Prince Sultan urged the international community to work for realizing the Palestinians' dream of an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital. "Arab countries have expressed their commitment to a just peace by endorsing the peace plan proposed by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah," he said. "Respecting international resolutions is the best way to settle global conflicts," he pointed out.

Prince Sultan called on Iraqis to overcome their differences in order to achieve their common objectives. "We are now in need of an effective United Nations more than ever, a UN which can carry out its mission of realizing global peace and stability and sustainable global growth, ensuring human rights and respecting the distinguished features of various societies and cultures."

The Crown Prince emphasized the Kingdom's efforts for manpower development, saying the government allocated a substantial part of its budget for the purpose. He said the Kingdom had given four percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on foreign aid annually, adding that 83 countries had benefited from its financial assistance. Saudi Arabia tops the list of countries extending foreign aid, he said.

He said the Kingdom had contributed more than $24 billion to the capital of several development organizations around the world, especially in Arab and Islamic countries. "Saudi Arabia stands second after the US in foreign remittances of expatriate workers," he said, adding that these remittances are an important source of foreign currencies and financial resources for many countries.

"We have also written off foreign debts worth $6 billion owed by many poor countries and given debt remission to other countries," the prince said and urged developed countries to fulfill their pledges by allocating 0.7 percent of their national revenues for development aid. He called for innovative sources to finance development projects.

Referring to terrorism, Prince Sultan said: "Saudi Arabia has suffered a lot from terrorism and confronted it with its force, inspired by the teachings of the Islamic faith. Islam is a religion of peace and security and encourages cooperation between peoples. It prohibits aggression against human beings."

Saudi Arabia hosted an international counterterrorism conference in Riyadh last February, which supported a proposal made by King Abdullah to establish an international anti-terror center, Prince Sultan said and hoped the General Assembly would approve the proposal to strengthen international cooperation in the fight against terrorism. He urged the General Assembly to set up a working team to study the resolutions of the Riyadh conference.

Following is the English translation of the prepared statement of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General at the High-Level Plenary Meeting of the 60th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, New York, September 15, 2005:

Mr. President, heads of delegations, respected members: It gives me great pleasure to convey to you the compliments of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and his best wishes for a successful meeting.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to His Excellency the President, His Excellency the President of the General Assembly as well as to His Excellency the Secretary-General and all who contributed to this distinguished international gathering.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, by virtue of its role in the international arena and as the home of the Two Holy Mosques to which all Muslims turn, is determined to contribute to the success of this historic gathering.

Mr. President: This international summit is being held five years after the UN Millennium Summit, whose agreed-upon objectives still require more effort in order to be met.

Today we are in dire need of an effective United Nations, one that is capable of fulfilling its responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, fostering sustainable development and safeguarding human rights in a manner that respects the diversity of societies and cultures.

Mr. President: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia attaches great importance to the issues of sustainable development. The high priority given to human development in our budget allocation has allowed the Kingdom to realize major achievement in relevant sectors.

Saudi Arabia has generously supported development efforts in other developing countries. During the past three decades, it has contributed on average four percent of its annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for development assistance to 83 developing countries throughout the world becoming the first in the world in this category. Saudi Arabia also provides material and moral support to multilateral development organizations and institutions at the Arab, regional and international levels by contributing to their capital as well as by providing administrative and technical support to these institutions, which play an active role in spurring economic and social development in developing countries.

Indeed, Saudi Arabia is the largest subscriber to the capital of most Arab and regional financial institutions. The Kingdom's total contributions to these institutions amount to approximately $24.27 billion.

With respect to reducing the debt burden of heavily indebted countries, Saudi Arabia has already forgiven over $6 billion in debt owed to it by a number of least developed countries, and has contributed its full share to the International Monetary Fund's debt reduction initiative fund.

Another facet of Saudi Arabia's support for economic and social development in developing countries is that Saudi Arabia is the second highest in the world in workers' remittances after the United States. The importance of such remittances is apparent as a significant source of foreign exchange and financial resources for labor-exporting countries.

I would like to take this occasion to call on the developed countries to honor their commitment to allocate 0.7 percent of their Gross National Product (GNP) to development assistance.

In this respect we welcome the efforts being made to identify additional and innovative resources to finance development; however, at the same time we stress the importance of achieving international consensus with respect to these resources, which should not prejudice the resources of other developing countries or cause them to assume additional burdens.

We also call for opening the markets of developed countries to exports from developing countries and for enabling countries, including my own, that wish to join the World Trade Organization to do so by granting them sufficient flexibility in accordance with their development circumstances.

Mr. President: Terrorism threatens the entire world. It is imperative that we make a collective effort to combat it. The Kingdom has reaffirmed its rejection and condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It suffered from and forcefully confronted terrorism in keeping with our Islamic faith, heritage and moral values.

Islam is a faith of peace, security and cooperation among people. All principles of Islam prohibit aggression against human beings. Allah Almighty said in the Holy Qur'an: "Transgress not the limits. Truly, God likes not the transgressors". He also said: "If anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind."

In order to promote international cooperation in this area, Saudi Arabia last February organized an international counter-terrorism conference. The final communiqué issued at this conference, known as the "Riyadh Declaration," reaffirmed the unified global will in combating terrorism and extremism.

The conference also adopted practical recommendations for combating terrorism and drying up its sources of financing. In addition, it supported the proposal of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to establish an international counter-terrorism center, a proposal that has garnered wide international support.

Therefore, the Kingdom is pleased to present a draft resolution to the United Nations General Assembly calling for the establishment of a task force to review the recommendations of the Riyadh Declaration, including the creation of an international counter-terrorism center. We greatly hope that this draft resolution will be endorsed and that we can take yet another step towards improving international cooperation in fighting terrorism, which is not bound by any nationality, ethnicity or religion.

Mr. President: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia appreciates the vital role played by the agencies of the United Nations, and hopes that efforts to reform the world body will strengthen these agencies and enhance their efficiency to better meet the needs and aspirations of our peoples.

The Kingdom supports international consensus with regard to expanding the Security Council as well as restricting the veto power by prohibiting its use against the implementation of previously adopted resolutions. Saudi Arabia also calls for the General Assembly to regain its authority as the main body of the United Nations as prescribed by its Charter.

Mr. President: The realization of peace and security requires adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter without double standards in the adoption and enforcement of Security Council resolutions. The Kingdom renews its call for Middle East and Gulf regions free of weapons of mass destruction. It also reaffirms that respect for international legitimacy is the means for resolving global conflicts; therefore, it is important to support the Middle East peace process.

The Arab countries affirmed their commitment to a just peace by endorsing the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz. We hope that concerted international efforts will lead to the realization of the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people in ending the occupation and establishing their independent state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital.

With respect to the situation in Iraq, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirms Iraq's territorial integrity and Arab identity. We hope that the fraternal Iraqi people will overcome their differences to achieve these desired objectives and that Iraq will regain its rightful place among Arab and Muslim nations.

Finally, I pray to God to grant us success in creating a world of harmony and peace.

Peace be upon you.

In New York Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz met with a number of world leaders on the sidelines of the ongoing 2005 World Summit of the General Assembly of the United Nations, including King Abdullah of Jordan, Emir Sheikh Hamad of Qatar, Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait, Crown Prince Sheikh Salman Ibn Hamid Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, President Laszlo Solyom of Hungary, President Kurmanbek Bakiev of Kyrgyzstan, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, President Armando Guebuza of Mozambique, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis of Greece, First Vice President Ahmad Zia Masood of Afghanistan and Minister of Culture and Information Sheikh Abdullah Ibn Zayed Al Nahayan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Crown Prince Sultan also met with Director-General of the International Labor Organization Juan Somavia and Executive Director James Morris of the World Food Program.

Also in New York Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, met with editors-in-chief and members of the Saudi media delegation accompanying him.

In the meeting, the Crown Prince urged the media people to be accurate, objective and honest in all they say and write. The meeting was attended by a number of princes and officials.

Crown Prince Sultan received in New York a group of Saudi students who are pursuing their academic studies in the United States.

Speaking on the occasion, Prince Sultan said: 'All Saudi students are the ambassadors of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

"Moreover, all of you are also aware of the fact that the Kingdom is the cradle of Islam and Arabism, and I would like to advice you to be god-fearing people and to dedicate your efforts in seeking knowledge which serves your religion, King and country'.

The meeting was attended by Prince Sultan's accompanying delegation.

Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, said Israel should withdraw from more occupied Arab lands after Gaza, indicating there can be no change in the collective Arab stand on Israel unless occupation ends.

In an interview with the Associated Press, he said Arabs have reiterated their commitment to a just and lasting peace through the Arab peace plan, which Saudi Arabia initiated and Arab leaders adopted in 2002.

"We have followed the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza very closely," he said. "This withdrawal should be followed by further withdrawals from the Palestinian and Arab occupied territories since 1967, and lead to the realization of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital."

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, who was Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince then, proposed a peace plan that was adopted by an Arab summit in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2002.

The plan calls for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the West Bank and traditionally Arab east Jerusalem, which would all be part of an independent Palestinian state. The Arabs also demand Israel give up the Golan Heights, which it captured from Syria.

In return for Israel surrendering the territory captured in the 1967 Middle East war, Arab states have said they will offer the Jewish state normal relations and peace.

On the issue of U.N. reform, the Crown Prince expressed support for reforming the Security Council, expanding its membership and improving its effectiveness to be able to preserve international peace and security.

On Iraq, Prince Sultan expressed hope that the country will be able to overcome its differences. He stressed Iraq's links to the Arab world.

"The most important thing is Iraq's unity and Arab identity, as well as the reservation of its sovereignty, stability and territorial integrity and guaranteed rights for all Iraqis, regardless of sect or political affiliation," he said.

On the issue of fighting terrorism, the crown prince stressed that failure to reach an internationally agreed definition of terrorism should not prevent unity by the international community to fight terrorism.

On dealing with the phenomenon of extremism, he said dealing with it should not be confined to the mere security aspect of it but should also include an intellectual approach.

During the interview, the Crown Prince dismissed as a "wrong notion" that there was discrimination against women in Saudi Arabia. "We are fighting for women's rights," he told the news agency, adding that under Islam women should be respected.