RIYADH, 14 November 2002 — Saudi Arabia will soon announce new measures including taxation to tackle its staggering public debt problem, according to Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation.
In an open dialogue with Shoura Council members recently, the prince said the new measures aimed at increasing revenues and reducing expenditures will be presented to the Shoura Council for endorsement.
"The new taxation system is already there with the Shoura Council and it is hoped the Shoura will give its opinion on it in the interest of the country," he added.
Prince Sultan said the entirely domestic public debt, estimated at about SR675 billion, was created by the Gulf War as well as the continuous fall in oil prices for several years in the past.
Prince Sultan confirmed the government’s move to strengthen the Shoura Council. "Developing administrative systems is a continuing process," he said, adding that Shoura’s development will serve the interests of both the Kingdom and its people.
He said Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, favored the idea to give the consultative body a bigger role.
"God willing, it will be developed in a way that will serve the interests of the country and its people," Sultan added. He also emphasized Shoura’s supervisory role. "It’s basically a monitoring authority. Nothing should prevent the Shoura from giving its opinions or observations" on the performance of government departments and agencies, he added.
Answering another question raised by a Shoura member, Prince Sultan said efforts were under way to establish two universities for girls within the next two years. "The Education Ministry is conducting extensive studies on the project. It will come to you (Shoura) later for further consultation and support," he said, adding that the existing girls’ colleges will be brought under one university, which will offer courses suitable to women. The government, he said, was considering best methods to provide jobs to increasing number of female graduates. These include early retirement of female employees and reducing their working hours.
Prince Sultan referred to the government’s efforts to provide higher education facilities to a large number of Saudi secondary school graduates, by opening new colleges and expanding existing ones.
He said the government had allocated SR2.7 billion in emergency aid for this program. Some 13 new community colleges have been opened to accommodate 13,000 students. "We have also licensed 33 new private colleges in various parts of the Kingdom."
Referring to Sept. 11 attacks, Prince Sultan said they were aimed at driving a wedge between Saudi Arabia and Islamic countries on the one hand and the United States on the other. He urged scholars to enlighten Saudi youth about the tolerant teachings of Islam.
He highlighted the strong Saudi-American relations. "The United States is the Kingdom’s first trading partner, the largest importer of Saudi oil and the largest foreign investor in the Kingdom," he added.
Prince Sultan said Saudi Arabia and its leadership would stand firm in its commitment to Shariah and will not be shaken by smear campaigns.
"The American leadership has opposed the smear campaigns that harm the relations between the two countries. This is very important and up till now we have not seen anything opposite to this assurance from US officials," he explained.
He said the government was making progress on setting up a human rights commission. "We’ll make every effort to realize justice and equality without any discrimination," he added.
He said there was no outside pressure on the Kingdom to change its academic curriculum. "It’s a matter of sovereignty and we’ll never accept such interference." He said a 50-member committee of experts has been set up to develop the Kingdom’s education system.
Prince Sultan stressed the need for fighting bribery with all the means available.
He said the Kingdom had reached nine agreements and established 18 major companies under the economic offset program, adding that the program was instrumental in transferring modern technology, increasing investment and creating jobs.
Saudi military industries provide jobs to more than 5,000 Saudis. "We have manufactured 100 armored vehicles, named Al-Fahd," he pointed out.
Prince Sultan agreed with a proposal that will allow provincial councils the right to spend part of the budget allocated for regional development projects.
Prince Sultan called for more efforts to educate, train and enlighten Saudi youth to take up various jobs in the Kingdom and called for opening more professional colleges and vocational training institutes. But he added: "We should not give an impression that we are against foreign manpower."
