RIYADH, 21 July 2003 — Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, recently met with a number of reform-minded intellectuals, Al-Watan newspaper reported yesterday.
Sources told the newspaper the prince welcomed some 30 intellectuals representing different backgrounds of Saudi society, and asked them to present their ideas regarding the next stage and the nature of reforms they had in mind.
The intellectuals, who included university professors, thinkers, and businessmen, expressed concerns about political, economic and educational reforms.
Prince Sultan told the group political reforms in Saudi Arabia were “under study.”
The group said they were pleased with the warm reception from the prince and confirmed his keen interest in reforms in line with the speech from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd in his address to the Shoura Council several months ago.
In January, Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, met with a number of intellectuals in private.
The academics tendered a petition to the crown prince calling for urgent reforms in the education system.
Meanwhile, US Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights, Democracy and Labor Lorne Craner is arriving in Saudi Arabia today from Afghanistan on a three-day visit.
