Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Premier, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, stressed that all Saudis reject violence carried out by deviant groups. In an interview with the Lebanese Al-Sayad magazine, published in its recent edition, Prince Sultan said that violence cannot be rationalized in Islamic or social terms, especially in Saudi Arabia.
Prince Sultan stressed that Saudis do not accept the destruction and damage wrought by the indiscriminate violence practiced by deviant groups. He noted that Saudis do not need to be taught how to be Muslims in a country that sponsors Islamic institutions and supports Muslims worldwide. He said that describing what is happening in the Kingdom as a war is exaggeration. The Saudis’ weapon in the face of these rogue militants people is strong, sound faith.
National dialogue is aimed at consolidating national unity. The government undertakes construction of the Kingdom’s economic infrastructure, but when it comes to details and establishing priorities, dialogue is a must. We plan to conduct comprehensive development for Saudi society as a whole. In this regard, we cannot dismiss the realties of our society as might be demanded by others. We want all sectors of our society to take part in the social process, which has already begun. We do not want to see anybody lagging behind, Prince Sultan said.
Asked about forthcoming municipal elections in the Kingdom, Prince Sultan said that the decision issued by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz in May 2004 to hold Saudi Arabia’s first municipal elections resulted from dialogue and consultation with wide sectors of the Saudi people.
Commenting on the role of the private sector in the development process, Prince Sultan urged businessmen and investors to invest their money within the Kingdom, noting that the government has completed a comprehensive network of services necessary to promote development.
Prince Sultan said that the Kingdom’s oil industry has undergone significant development and Saudi Arabia is now focusing on its gas industry, seeking to diversify its sources of income. Recent discoveries of gas placed the Kingdom fourth largest in terms of gas reserves. The challenge for Saudi Arabia now is how to organize the gas sector and to continue to develop and expand the base of investments and participation of the private sector in the Kingdom’s economy.
Asked to comment on the recent oil price increases, Prince Sultan said that high prices have their positive impact in the form of support of state budgets of oil exporting countries. But they have negative impacts on the global economy, an integral part of which is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Soaring prices negatively affect the stability of Saudi clients and customers. He cited the instability in Iraq and the region, the failures of international oil companies in refining areas, and the increase of world demand to explain the current surge of oil prices. Prince Sultan said that the responsibility of the Kingdom, the world’s biggest petroleum producer and exporter, is to meet the world’s needs for oil. Accordingly, the Kingdom is prepared to increase its supplies and bring down the oil price to the normal $30 dollars per barrel.
On the state budget surplus resulting from current high oil prices, Prince Sultan said that the surplus will be appropriated for development of the Kingdom and welfare of its people. He quoted remarks made by Crown Prince Abdullah last week that as much as SAR41 billion will be allotted to that end. The largest part of the surplus will settle public debt; and SAR30 billion will go towards a five-year social development plan.
Source: SPA
