LONDON, 21 October — Water Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi has denied suggestions by foreign media that his new appointment was a punishment for criticizing Zionists. "Saudi Arabia will not take any decision under foreign pressure," he stated.
Speaking to Al-Hayat newspaper, Gosaibi said an unholy alliance of Zionists and Christian extremists was behind the smear campaign launched against him and his country. He said he will continue to express his opinion through the media.
Gosaibi, who was Saudi ambassador to Britain for more than a decade, was appointed minister of water on Sept. 16 by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd on the recommendation of Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard.
Gosaibi said his new appointment was not a surprise as there was a proposal to establish a separate ministry for water about five years ago. The Council of Ministers decided to establish the new ministry about a year and a half ago, he pointed out.
"I was aware that the government was looking for a suitable person to take up the job of water minister. So the appointment was not a surprise for me. It may be a big surprise for those who do not know the background," he told the London-based Arabic daily. "Those who do not know should ask those who know instead of making assumptions and predictions," he added.
"It’s mere stupidity for someone to believe that Saudi Arabia takes decisions under pressure from Zionists. If the Kingdom had acted in tune with Zionist pressure it would not have faced the present smear campaign as everybody knows the source and reasons for this campaign," he said.
The minister said there was no pressure either from the United States or Britain to remove him from the ambassadorial post. "If there was pressure the Kingdom would not have accepted it," he added. "What is circulated in this respect is mere rumor and falsification," he said. Gosaibi said he has established "very good relations" with officials at the British Foreign Office and other departments.
Asked whether his poem "Martyrs" was in tune with his previous job as a diplomat, he said he has the right to express his personal opinion through poems or novels or any other literary form. "No sane person will consider a poem or a novel or a play as an official stand. Those who have raised this issue know this fact, but they want to silence every person who raises his voice against Ariel Sharon’s atrocities and defends the Palestinian rights.
"But they will not be able to silence the world’s 1,000 million Arabs and Muslims. We are not capable of fighting with weapons but we can fight wielding our pens," he pointed out.
Referring to an Israeli newspaper report that US President George Bush had told Crown Prince Abdullah that the Kingdom "has a good ambassador in Washington and a bad one in London," Gosaibi said: "This report is part of Israeli lies. It’s totally false."
Gosaibi said Arab countries must improve their situation from within before trying to improve their image abroad. "The present Arab situation is gloomy. There are divisions and differences... If we remain in this situation, it will be difficult to give a good impression about us in the West or East. When our situation improves, naturally Arab causes will receive greater support in the West."
Gosaibi said the ministerial post will not prevent him from continuing his literary works. "I have worked as a Cabinet member before and in those days I published a number of books and collections of poems. So, there will be no change," he added.
Asked whether he believed the Palestinians would receive justice, he said: "Justice in today’s world, unfortunately, will not be achieved without power. It will not come from good statements or international resolutions. As long as Arabs remain politically, militarily and economically weak, I don’t think we would be able to influence the West."
