Day 1 at the Jeddah Economic Forum was full of surprises, and they were all pleasant ones. The first surprise was the venue itself. Most of the previous eight forums were held at the Jeddah Hilton. This time, the forum moved to the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s International Conference Center on Madinah Road, where usually exhibitions are held. Many were skeptical about the change of venue, as the Hilton offers a variety of world-class amenities. The chamber reportedly spent millions on the center and gave it a complete new look. A lot of jaws dropped when people entered the beautiful and wonderfully decorated center which is much more spacious than what the Hilton offers. People who attended previous forums noticed the difference, and everybody appreciated the excellent renovations.
Speaking to JCCI officials on the sidelines of the forum, it was revealed that this investment would put the chamber in good stead for years to come. The Hilton represented a hefty annual expense; whatever money was spent on the center’s revamp will result in lower costs in the future. Although no one would go on record as to the cost of the renovations, sources confirmed that SR10 million had been spent.
The second surprise of the day was the speech by Bosnian President Dr. Haris Silajdzic that was delivered in Arabic. Silajdzic is both a politician and an academic as well as an Arabic language expert. His speech was delivered with the proficiency of an expert storyteller, with pauses for reflection. Saudi leaders in attendance listened to him with their undivided attention.
He said the example of Bosnia contradicted the concept of the clash of civilizations, noting that despite the turmoil of war, the nation remains a society of tolerance. The Bosnian president talked about the siege of Sarajevo, which spanned four years — the longest siege in the history of modern warfare. More than 12,000 people were killed and 50,000 wounded during the siege. Eighty-five percent of the casualties were civilians.
“The Muslims in Bosnia — about 50 percent of the population — proved to be a very civilized element,” said Silajdzic. “They were tested during the war. They did not create concentration camps. They did not commit genocide — they could. They are indeed the most constructive citizens of Europe.” The Arabic address dissolved all differences between the forum delegates. Saudis are proud people, and when someone speaks to them in their own language, their affinity for that person has no limits. At the end of the session, Silajdzic was mobbed by an appreciative audience and received profuse thanks for his thought-provoking address.
There were a lot of lighter moments during the first session. When Prince Turki Al-Faisal mentioned Saudi Arabia’s response to disasters worldwide — noting that the Kingdom provided aid to victims of Hurricane Katrina — the crowd laughed when he quipped that the Saudi aid arrived to the victims before the American government was able to respond to its own citizens. “Many people don’t know that the Kingdom contributes more per capita in foreign aid than any other country in the world,” Prince Turki said.
Attendees also had a hearty laugh when a Jeddah-based American expatriate, Rabia Hershey, asked panelists how individual foreign workers could contribute to the Kingdom’s development through the application of their knowledge and skills. She told them she had been in Saudi Arabia for 26 years and wanted to contribute to improving young Saudis’ communication skills but she couldn’t accomplish much because the local population uses the city’s training centers, which are out to fleece them. “I challenge you to answer that,” said Rabia.
In response, Palestinian Prime Minister Dr. Salam Fayyad said all individuals should contribute. Silajdzic agreed with her and said there is no way you can prevent people from helping to develop society. By the time Prince Turki’s turn came, the moderator, British ITN newsreader Alastair Stewart, said to him: “Your Royal Highness, we are running out of time, can you answer this lady briefly?”
“I will be very brief,” said the prince. “Whenever I am challenged by a lady, I surrender.”
Prince Turki broached the topic of the Danish cartoon controversy. “Printing those cartoons initially was reprehensible,” he said. “Reprinting them was inexcusable.” He also said the Kingdom was committed to making a difference in the Middle East. “Saudi Arabia’s goal is also to promote peace and stability in our region,” he said. “The Roman poet Horace once wrote: ‘It is your concern when your neighbor’s wall is on fire.’ Right now, our neighbors’ walls are ablaze. Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Palestine all require immediate attention. In each of these countries, the Kingdom is doing what it can to bring parties together, open up dialogues, and offer solutions for peace and progress.”