RIYADH, 29 September 2004 — Michael Ancram, the British Conservative shadow foreign secretary, has not ruled out the possibility of amending the law to curb dissident activities in Britain so long as they are within a balanced mix of rights and responsibilities.

His veiled remarks on the possible review of the British legal system came during a press conference following his meeting with Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, and Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation. British Ambassador Sherard Cowper-Coles and the embassy officials were also present.

Asked about the possibility of reviewing the British law in the light of the observations of Crown Prince Abdullah regarding the free hand given to Saudi dissidents in Britain, Ancram said: “I will go back and look at our legal system in the light of what we have heard and look at where the law stands at present. Certain laws are in the process of being changed.”

Asked if it does not rule out the possibility of the laws being amended, Ancram said it is important to reconcile the need for preventing terrorism with that of safeguarding the rights of the people to freedom of speech. “You have to get the balance right. And where the balance is wrong, you have to re-balance it.”

Ancram said that during his talks with Crown Prince Abdullah, his discussions focused not only on the problems that exist for the Saudi government but also during his term as a minister in Northern Ireland for four years. (Ancram was in Brighton’s Grand Hotel when it was bombed by the IRA in 1984).

“Our law allows people to appear on television and radio to present their point of view. But we have made it clear that we have to work within the law. Where the law hinders us, we have to strengthen it. I told Prince Abdullah that I have to satisfy myself that the law (in Britain) is right.”

In response to a question that the British government is not taking any action to rein in the dissidents, Ancram referred to the paradoxical situation in Britain back in the 1980s when one of the leaders of the IRA appeared not only on American television but also on the British TV.

“I was as frustrated as is the Saudi government now with these people that the law can allow for that to happen. Unless the law is changed, we have to stick to the rules. I can understand their frustration, because I have suffered it myself in similar circumstances during the civil war in Northern Ireland.”

The opposition leader proposed the creation of a forum for holding a dialogue between the Islamic world and the West. Ancram said he has articulated his views in a policy paper which will be presented to his party shortly. He said the main thrust of his argument is that the proposed dialogue should be comprehensive and cover political, social and academic dialogue to resolve the outstanding differences. “Such misunderstandings can be resolved at different levels,” he observed.

Asked about the substance of his talks with Prince Abdullah and Prince Sultan, Ancram said they discussed the ongoing political reforms in the Kingdom in the context of the municipal elections to be held next year. “In looking at democratic reforms I strongly believe that there is no one solution that fits everybody. It is very dangerous to suggest that you can shop for democracy at a showroom.”

Another important element of the reforms was the respect for human rights. He said it is important to remember that these democratic reforms in the Middle East could pave the way for some major developments, including the creation of an independent Palestine side by side Israel.

Ancram said he was fully satisfied with the measures that the Kingdom is taking to combat terrorism, which has become a global phenomenon.

Answering a question on how the Conservative Party’s policy would differ from that of the Labor government with respect to Iraq if it came to power in next year’s election, he said: “I hope the elections in January will produce political stability in Iraq. We hope the time will come when the coalition forces can withdraw and the local police and security forces can take over the responsibility of providing law and order and security.”

He said his own view was that not enough thought was given to what followed in the aftermath of the invasion and the fall of Iraq. “Some of the problems that we now see, such as terrorism, are because there was not sufficient planning. I would like to see, for instance, a proper program for the creation of jobs, because one of the greatest recruiters for insurgency in Iraq can be people who have no income and no means of support.”