The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dr.Abdul Ruff

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Saudi King Abdullah, accompanied by a high-level delegation including foreign, finance, labor and culture and information ministers, was greeted by Britain's Prince Charles and other senior British officials as well as Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and Saudi Ambassador to the UK Prince Muhammad ibn Nawaf on arrival at Heathrow Airport on a state visit to the UK on 30 October and received a red carpet welcome from Queen Elizabeth II on 31 October as he began a state visit to the UK, the first by a Saudi king in 20 years. The queen, alongside her husband Prince Philip and Prime Minister Gordon Brown, formally welcomed King Abdullah at Horse Guards Parade in central London, where he inspected a guard of honor. King Abdullah has paid previous official visits to Britain in 1973, 1984, 1988 and 1998. This is Abdullah's first official visit to Britain after he became king. The king stayed at Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth-II's official residence in the capital. In the late next morning, he was formally greeted by the queen, followed by a state carriage procession, before a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

He also met with Prime Minister Gordon Brown later on Wednesday, where they focused on counter-terrorism, Iran, the Middle East peace process, Iraq and Lebanon, said an official, who played down King Abdullah's remarks in a BBC interview that Saudi Arabia had conveyed intelligence to Britain that could have prevented the 2005 London bombings which killed 52 commuters when four young British Muslims blew themselves up on London's public transport system. He also said the Kingdom would not deviate from its Islamic faith and solid principles while making progress in worldly affairs. The king left London for Riyadh the on Nov 01. The queen and the Duke of Edinburgh bid farewell to their royal guest.

King Abdullah began his tour by lambasting UK for its failure in London bombing of July 07, 2005. In the BBC interview, King Abdullah said it would take 20 to 30 years to defeat terrorism. "My advice to all countries including Britain is that they should not show any leniency in fighting terrorism," he said. The king also revealed the recent arrest of some terror financiers in the Kingdom and said Al-Qaeda continued to be a big problem for Saudi Arabia.

After a day of ceremony, King Abdullah met Prime Minister Brown today to discuss the Middle East peace process, Iraq and Lebanon, counterterrorism and Iran. The BBC reported that King Abdullah is annoyed that the rest of the world has largely failed to act on his proposal to establish an international counter-terrorism center. The king also told the broadcaster, through an interpreter: "I believe most countries are not taking the threat of international terrorism too seriously including, unfortunately, Great Britain. "Everybody has accepted the proposal but then did nothing to implement it," the king said." This center, under the umbrella of the United Nations, will collect information related to terrorism. We have learned from our experience that the speedy dispatch of information is the main factor in combating terrorism," he explained. In the interview, King Abdullah also spoke about the political, social and economic reforms taking place in the Kingdom and the growing role of Saudi women in society. "Islam has given the most rights to women in the world and they are strong and important participants in our society," he said when asked about the condition of women in Saudi Arabia

Speaking about the US-sponsored Middle East peace conference, the king said he believed that the conference would fail unless the Palestinians' needs were taken more seriously. He emphasized the return of Palestinian refugees to their country. "This is a humanitarian condition for peace." We Want Rights Not Concessions, said King Abdullah, adding that Arabs want their legitimate rights, rather than concessions from Israel. "We don't want concessions. We are people with rights and we demand our rights," the king told the BBC when asked whether he expected any Israeli concessions in order to reach a Middle East peace settlement. The BBC aired the interview hours before the king arrived in London on a state visit.

The Two Kingdoms Dialogue, which began here on 29 October, ended its deliberations that focused on ways of strengthening political, economic and educational cooperation between the two countries. He noted Riyadh's efforts to promote peace in the Middle East and narrow the differences of parties involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict. The participants discussed the challenges facing young men and women in both countries and emphasized the need for inculcating moderate ideas and tolerant concepts in their minds. British diplomats in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, have discussed the issue with their counterparts. The dialog also focused on expanding cooperation between Saudi and British universities and prospects for setting up Saudi-British technical training institutes in the Kingdom. The UK Foreign Office said the conference focused on youth, education and cultural dialog.

He made no specific reference to King Abdullah's remarks about Britain's role in tackling terrorism, but insisted that both countries understood the threat that groups like Al Qaeda pose. UK Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells underscored Saudi Arabia's efforts in fighting terrorism and said the two countries were cooperating in this venture.

Gordon Brown and King Abdullah discussed their expectations for the peace conference in Maryland but the monarch did not give a clear indication whether his country would be represented. The prime minister emphasized the importance the UK attaches to Saudi leadership in the Middle East. They both agreed that a viable Palestinian state was key to a solution in the region. Counter-terrorism was discussed and the prime minister thanked the king for Saudi efforts on the issue. However, there did not appear to be any specific discussion of the king's claim in a BBC interview earlier this week that the UK had not tackled terrorism with sufficient seriousness.

King Abdullah had also said the UK failed to act on intelligence passed by the Saudis ahead of the 7 July suicide bombings in London - a claim denied by the Foreign Office. Education was high on the agenda, including its use as a tool to counter radicalization in Saudi Arabia. Officials said human rights in Saudi Arabia have been raised at other meetings during the king's time in the UK.

Brown did not raise the issue of human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia during his one-hour lunch with the king or during the 25-minutes they spoke afterward, his spokesman said. He added that

Both leaders expressed optimism that a Middle East peace conference, expected to take place soon in Annapolis, Maryland, could advance the peace process, the spokesman said. After meeting with Brown, Abdullah had separate meetings with opposition Conservative leader David Cameron and Prince Charles.

Abdullah praised Britain's commitment to a viable Palestinian state. Abdullah's 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which called on Arab countries to make peace if Israel withdraws from the Palestinian territories, is an important framework going into a U.S.-sponsored peace conference, Brown said. In an interview published on 31 October in the London-based Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Brown said Saudi support was needed to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon - a development that could start a regional arms race. "Saudi engagement on the Iranian nuclear issue is critically important," Brown was quoted as saying. Brown's office said the two leaders also focused their discussion on counter-terrorism issues, but offered no details

Saudi and UK are determined to support the cause of peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Quite apart from the human tragedy of this conflict, stagnation in the Middle East peace process has weakened people's faith in politics and in the power of solutions achieved by dialogue. In that way, the conflict is too often acted as a source of radicalization and as a block on positive change in the Middle East as a whole. Today there is a hope that both sides can make progress towards peace. Prince Saud and Mr. Straw met last year in London to initiate the dialog with the aim of bolstering their bilateral ties. Saudi Arabian and British delegations headed by Foreign Minister Saud al Faisal and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw met in April 2006 for iteration of the "Two Kingdom's Dialogue" at the Royal Conference Palace in Riyadh.

As the home of Islam's two holiest sites, Saudi Arabia has enormous significance for the world's Muslims, including the two million of our people whom are Muslims living in Britain. Some 20,000 British citizens live in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is the UK's largest export market in the region. His visit augmented the urge for greater cooperation between them. The visit is the product of years of patient diplomacy and is an indication of how Saudi Arabia has become one of the UK's closest allies in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and the UK clearly matter to each other, with the relationship going well beyond trade. In August, 2006 Saudi Arabia signed a deal with the UK to buy 72 Euroefighter Typhoon aircraft in a deal that analysts say could be worth more than $11 billion.

The UK is a driving force behind the EU's growing relationship with Saudi Arabia and its neighbors through the negotiations for a free trade agreement with the Gulf countries and the EU's work for a strategic partnership with the Middle East and North Africa. The UK and Saudi Arabia are also working together with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) new initiative designed to improve the conditions for investment in the Middle East and North Africa. The visit has consolidated the efforts further in this regard.

Both agreed that bilateral relations were healthy on the economic and educational fronts. The British foreign secretary said he strongly agreed with the statement of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah who rejected the idea of a "clash of civilizations." He also mentioned the initiative of King Abdullah who, as crown prince, floated the idea of setting up an international center for combating terrorism.

The press conference in this connection covered a range of issues including election of Hamas and its aftermath, the situation in Iraq, the fight against terrorism and the difficulties over Iran's nuclear program. In his remarks, Prince Saud made a proposal for setting up a joint investment holding company with participation from the private sector in both countries. He said such an initiative would go a long way toward boosting bilateral investment. British investment in the Kingdom stood at SR4 billion and was set for further growth in the climate of economic and political stability that Saudi Arabia enjoys. The prince's proposal was welcomed by Straw, who commended it to the attention of the business communities in both states.

The crucial issue on Palestine was discussed briefly. On Hamas' victory in recent elections and the suspension of financial aid to the Palestinian government, Saudi said this amounted to collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Prince Saud said, European resistance to Nazi occupation during World War II and implied that Palestinians were similarly resisting Israeli occupation of their territory. Straw, while acknowledging that Hamas came to power in a democratic election, reiterated Britain's view that it should recognize Israel and renounce the use of force before the international community could continue its financial aid.

Meanwhile, international pressure is growing on both Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a common vision of a final peace deal before a Middle East peace conference. The meeting is expected to take place in Annapolis, Maryland, in November or December. "We hear that our Palestinian brethren are not very optimistic about the progress that has been achieved thus far," the king said. "I believe that unless a serious effort is put into this in order to reach agreements that satisfy the Palestinians, the Arab world and the Islamic world, the conference may not be successful." Asked whether Saudi Arabia would participate in the conference assuming that it would be successful, he replied: "This question is premature." He said if there were serious desire from all parties, the conference would prove successful irrespective of the fact that it takes place at the end of George W. Bush's presidency.

King Abdullah as the Crown Prince under King Fahd initiated a lot of reforms. He departed from the traditional policy making of the kingdom and went ahead with good economic and cultural relations with countries with different systems, including Russia. Saudi Arabia has recognized, if properly managed, reform and modernization will preserve what Saudis and others most cherish in their society; the values of respect for the family, others and religion, of social responsibility and good order; of a powerful morality based on the great and noble faith of Islam. Saudi Arabia is a monarchy with a political system rooted in Islamic Sharia law. Arabia was formed in 1932 when Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud united different regions of the kingdom. Between 1992 and 1993, King Fahd introduced a number of political reforms, including the establishment in 1993 of a Consultative Council, the Majlis Al-Shura.

Oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia in 1938, and production began under the then US-controlled and now nationalized Saudi Aramco (Arabian American Oil Company). Saudi Aramco is one of the largest oil companies in the world. Saudi Arabia was one of the five founding members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Over the last two years OPEC has played a significant role in maintaining oil market stability. With 25% of the world's reserves of oil, Saudi Arabia has a pivotal role in the world energy market, which is of such obvious and crucial importance for global growth and prosperity. Indeed, without Saudi Arabia's stabilizing influence over the last quarter of the century and more, the world economy would have had a far rougher ride.

In January 2003, Crown Prince Abdullah set out proposals for "self-reform and the promotion of political participation" in the Arab world. A few days later he received a petition signed by 120 people which called for reform including: election of members to the Shura council and regional assemblies; an independent judiciary; freedom of speech and association; the development of civil society and increased human rights; a greater public role for women; and a national forum for open discussion. As part of this reform process, Crown Prince Abdullah announced in October 2003 the plan to hold municipal elections for half of the members of municipal councils. These will be the first elections to a government body in Saudi Arabia. Human rights violations in Saudi Arabia are widespread and cloaked in secrecy. Political and religious opponents routinely face arbitrary detention and brutal treatment. Over the past two decades, more than 1,000 people have been put to death or have suffered judicial corporal punishments such as amputation of limbs. Just as the repression is hidden, so too are the arms deals and shipments of security equipment which help the torturers and human rights violators. As usual the UK rakes up the issue of Human rights violations in Saudi Arabia just for formality and that does not faulter the strong ties between

Crown Prince Abdullah has encouraged economic reform by opening some sectors of the economy, such as the gas industry, to investment by foreign companies. Saudi Arabia has applied to join the World Trade Organization and is in the process of negotiating the terms of its entrance. Saudi Arabia's transformation over the last 100 years has been simply astounding. A country once considered a relative backwater has become a cornerstone of the global economy.

Economic growth and development has transformed life for millions of its citizens. However, as Saudi Arabia's own rulers have recognized, no nation can stand still. The challenge for Saudi Arabia, as for Britain and other nations, is to adapt to this changing world reality, whilst preserving all that is good and admirable in its society.

Saudi Arabia is economically self-reliant and does not expect any aid from any international agencies. Saudi Arabia is opening its economy to the outside world and is eyeing new export opportunities in Asia. After the kingdom joined the World Trade Organization, its trade volume with countries across the globe has steadily increased. An important addition to its trade community is China. King Abdullah headed a large delegation to China to help develop Saudi trade links with Asian economies.

The combination of relatively high oil prices and exports led to a revenues windfall for Saudi Arabia during 2004 and early 2005. For 2004 as a whole, Saudi Arabia earned about $116 billion in net oil export revenues, up 35 percent from 2003 revenue levels. Saudi net oil export revenues are forecast to increase in 2005 and 2006, to $150 billion and $154 billion, respectively, mainly due to higher oil prices. Increased oil prices and consequent revenues since the price collapse of 1998 have significantly improved Saudi Arabia's economic situation, with real GDP growth of 5.2 percent in 2004, and forecasts of 5.7% and 4.8% growth for 2005 and 2006, respectively.

Saudi Arabia, the world's leading oil producer, has by far the largest of the Arab economies. It has the largest proven oil reserves in the world (more than 25%). Its economy is vulnerable to fluctuations in the oil price and remains very dependent on oil income. Per capita GDP has remained constant over the last decade with a large increase in the last two years.

The rapidly increasing population highlights the need for the labour market to create more jobs for young Saudis. To support this, the government has implemented a policy called 'Saudiisation' whereby an increasing percentage of jobs in private sector companies (with over 20 employees) in Saudi Arabia must be filled by Saudi nationals.

Saudi Arabia has a history of buying arms from Britain dating back to the 1960s, and usually pays in oil. The United Kingdom has significant political and commercial interests in Saudi Arabia. About 30,000 UK nationals live there. Saudi Arabia is our largest export market in the region. UK exports to Saudi Arabia were about £1.4 billion in 2002. The UK is Saudi Arabia's joint 4th largest investor.

Saudi Arabia has long been a close ally of the UK. There are many high level visits between the two countries including at Prime Ministerial and Minister level. The British and Saudi royal families also maintain close contact.UK, like the USA, insists on change, modernization and reform in Saudi Arabia, on a particular focus on education, assistance for democracy and improving the environment for investment so as to ensure a strong partnership for both, and both have resolved to develop the historical ties even further. This could mean an expectation from the West from Saudi Arabia to follow and imbibe the Western culture step by step, to which Riyadh has a natural aversion for religious reason.