Saudi Arabia National Day 2003
The developing countries’ attempts to reduce poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals are being hampered by the fact that the developed countries are reneging on the pledges that they themselves made years ago to devote 0.7 per cent of their GNP to development assistance. In this connection, it is noteworthy that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, although a developing country with increasing financial needs, has contributed to the funding of economic and social development efforts in developing countries. In the last three decades, it has provided approximately 76.3 billion dollars in non-reimbursable aid (grants) and development loans on easy terms through bilateral and multilateral channels. This assistance represents about 4 per cent of the Kingdom’s average annual GNP during that period and exceeds the official development assistance goal set by the United Nations. Seventy-two developing countries (41 in Africa, 23 in Asia and eight in other regions) have benefited from this assistance covering basic development sectors such as education, health and infrastructure. The Kingdom has also contributed its full share to the International Monetary Fund’s Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Debt Initiative Trust Fund and had already waived the debts owed to it by several poor countries1, even before the HIPC initiative was launched.
The requirements for sustainable
development in the Arab World
In the field of inter-Arab cooperation, since 1998 the Arab States have taken significant steps towards the establishment of a regional free trade area and it is expected that inter-regional trade will be fully freed from tariff and non-tariff barriers by early 2005. However, since the progress so far achieved has fallen short of our aspirations, the Kigdom of Saudi Arabia has submitted a proposal designed to intensify joint Arab action. This proposal, which is based on a moral commitment to ensure implementation, participation and transparency, focuses on the promotion of joint Arab economic action that will help to strengthen the Arab nation. This proposal will be considered at the next Arab Summit due to be held in Tunisia early next year. The Kingdom hopes that this proposal, together with other ideas put forward by a number of Arab States, will lead to the formulation of an effective joint Arab action strategy that will fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the Arab nation, enhance its ability to meet the challenges of the new inter at on I order to strengthen its endeavours to achieve development and prosperity ther its positive contribution to international development and human civilization.
In order to consolidate the positive results of these economic and structural reforms and ensure tangible progress in inter-Arab economic integration endeavours and in the various initiatives proposed at the regional and international levels concerning partnerships, establishment of free-trade areas or domestic structural reforms, it is essential to eliminate the principal sources of tension in the region, particularly the Arab-Israeli conflict, to deal with the consequences of the war with Iraq and to develop our mutual relations on sound foundations based on common interests. Since development and peace go hand-in-hand, development efforts will falter without peace and stability. In this context, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia proposed the Arab Peace Initiative that was adopted at the Beirut Summit Meeting in 2002. The Kingdom has also supported all the initiatives designed to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace in the region.
Israel’s recently announced acceptance of the Road Map, following its acceptance by the Palestinian side, constitutes a commendable step forward, provided that it leads to further consecutive steps to earnestly apply and diligently monitor the stages of implementation of that plan. A Security Council resolution adopting the Road Map would undoubtedly enhance its credibility.
With regard , efforts must be made to secure its rapid emergence from its present ordeal so that it can once again become an effective member of the international community and an independent prosperous country whose people can enjoy well-being, security and stability and live in peace with their neighbours. It is to be hoped that the Security Council’s unanimously adopted resolution 1483 lifting the economic and trade sanctions imposed on Iraq will constitute a motivating incentive for the achievement of security and stability, which are an important requirement for the implementation of any future steps to form an Iraqi Government representing all sections of the Iraqi people and capable of managing the country’s affairs so that it can become a pillar of stability in the region and establish relations of trust and good-neighbourliness with its neighbours.
In this connection, there is a need for concerted efforts to deal with all aspects of the Iraqi problem. The United Nations and the States members of the Security Council, and particularly the United States of America and the United Kingdom, must assume their responsibility to remedy what is happening in Iraq, to safeguard its rights and cultural heritage
an to enable it to manage its own affairs and undertake responsibility for the exploitation of its natural wealth and resources. In keeping with its policy, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will work with the international community in support of efforts to restore stability and development in Iraq. We wish to emphasize the importance of assigning the United Nations a pivotal role extending beyond humanitarian affairs to cover the reconstruction process, the formation of an Iraqi national government and the reintegration of Iraq in the international community, as a member of the League of Arab States, so that it can exercise its rights and discharge its obligations within the framework of international law.
Building for the future in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
In his opening address at the current session of the Consultative Council, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques clearly expressed his Government’s view of the comp ehnsive reform requirements during the coming stage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This address was referred to the Council of Ministers and the Consultative Council for the formulation of a work programme to put this view into effect within a specified time frame. The steps so far taken were designed to promote and consolidate the principles of justice and equality among all
members of society and safeguarding all legitimate rights and freedoms. In conformity with its international obligations arising from its accession to certain international instruments, and in furtherance of the ongoing periodic process of review and reappraisal of the Kingdom’s regulations, policies and procedures with a view to enhancing and updating them, recent years have witnessed the promulgation of some important regulations, including a Code of Civil Procedure, a Code of Criminal Procedure, a Code of Practice for Lawyers, a Press and Publications Code and a Code Regulating Real Estate Ownership and Investment by Non-Saudis. The Kingdom’s Government has also authorized, at the request of a group of Saudi citizens, the establishment of a non-governmental human rights organization to help to promote and protect such rights, in addition to the establishment of a goernmental Human Rights Commission.
The above-mentioned Codes supplemented the existing legislative and regulatory structures in a positive manner with a view to enhancing the protection of human rights and freedoms by, interalia, securing equality and preventing or eliminating any manifestations of prejudice or discrimination in a manner consistent not only with the fundamental principles on which the Kingdom’s policy is based but also with the spirit and requirements of the modrn world.
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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the fight against terrorism
Terrorism threatens the lives of innocent people, as well as global stability, and hampers development endeavours. In fact, acts of terrorism are immoral acts that are incompatible with the tolerant principles and precepts of all divinely revealed religions, and particularly the Islamic religion which prohibits the killing of civilians and innocent and peaceful protected persons and rejects all forms of violence and terrorism. The Kingdom has been a target of terrorism in the past and the bombings in Riyadh on 12 May 2003 once again confirmed that the Kingdom sill one of the countries targeted by acts of terrorism.
The Kingdom has repeatedly, and in the strongest terms, rejected, condemned, deplored and denounced all forms of terrorism, expressed its opposition to terrorism and emphasized its active cooperation with international endeavours to combat terrorism. The Kingdom ve Council for the formulation of a work programme to put this view into effect within a specified time frame. The steps so far taken were designed to promote and consolidate the principles of justice and equality among all members of society and safeguarding all legitimate rights and freedoms. In conformity with its international obligations arising from its accession to certain international instruments, and in furtherance of the ongoing periodic process of review and reappraisal of the Kingdom's regulations, policies and procedures with a view to enhancing and updating them, recent years have witnessed the promulgation of some important regulations, including a Code of Civil Procedure, a Code of Criminal Procedure, a Code of Practice for Lawyers, a Press and Publications Code and a Code Regulating Real Estate Ownership and Investment by Non-Saudis. The Kingdom's Government has also authorized, at the request of a group of Saudi citizens, the establishment of a non-governmental human rights organization to help to promote and protect such rights, in addition to the establishment of a governmental Human Rights Commission.
The above-mentioned Codes supplemented the existing legislative and regulatory structures in a positive manner with a view to enhancing the protection of human rights and freedoms by, inter alia, securing equality and preventing or eliminating any manifestations of prejudice or discrimination in a manner consistent not only with the fundamental principles on which the Kingdom's policy is based but also with the spirit and requirements of the modern world.
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Terrorism threatens the lives of innocent people, as well as global stability, and hampers development endeavours. In fact, acts of terrorism are immoral acts that are incompatible with the tolerant principles and precepts of all divinely revealed religions, and particularly the Islamic religion which prohibits the killing of civilians and innocent and peaceful protected persons and rejects all forms of violence and terrorism. The Kingdom has been a target of terrorism in the past and the bombings in Riyadh on 12 May 2003 once again confirmed that the Kingdom is still one of the countries targeted by acts of terrorism.
The Kingdom has repeatedly, and in the strongest terms, rejected, condemned, deplored and denounced all forms of terrorism, expressed its opposition to terrorism and emphasized its active cooperation with international endeavours to combat terrorism. The Kingdom has also indicated its willingness to contribute actively, within the framework of a collective international effort under the auspices of the United Nations, to a definition of the phenomenon of terrorism in its various forms, without selectivity or discrimination, and to address its causes with a view to its eradication and the achievement of international security and stability.
Since terrorism has no country, religion or nationality, no single country or society is capable of fighting it alone. This requires concerted efforts by the international community as a whole. In this respect, the Kingdom has supported and contributed to international endeavours to fight terrorism. It was among the first countries to ratify the 40 recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering in 1999 and has prepared draft regulations to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism which are under final review and are expected to be promulgated soon. The Kingdom has also implemented the Security Council resolutions concerning the freezing of accounts held by terrorist individuals and entities. At the domestic level, financial transfers are subject to strict regulations that permit such transfers only through banks. Charitable associations are allowed to operate in the Kingdom only after obtaining a license to do so and their operations and accounts are subject to control and auditing by the competent government agencies. The Kingdom is currently in the process of reorganizing these charitable associations in order to subject them to more control and accountability and make their operations and activities more transparent. This process is in its final stages. To control the operations of Saudi charitable associations outside the country, the Government intends to promulgate legislation under which donations going outside the country will be channellged through a single authority in order to prevent any of these donations from being diverted to dubious activities or bodies.