The article was written by Suresh Shah and it contained some of my thoughts about my time at the Spanish Embassy, then in Jeddah. Although the color of Arab News was green, as it is today, and green is the color of hope in Spain, the clipping I have kept has taken on a melancholic grey color, to match the hair I have now!

Destiny has brought me to the Kingdom 27 years later, and in one of my first visits to Jeddah since my return I met with the Arab News Editor in Chief, Khaled Almaeena, who, by the way, also has grey hair! He asked me to comment on the changes undergone by his country. To me they are very clear: A much stronger political and diplomatic commitment in the big issues of the Middle East and an impressive record of economic development. What hasn't changed in regard to Arab News is both the duty and pleasure I experience in reading the paper every morning, due to its attractive format and color, and its excellent mix of domestic and international news. What, in my opinion, has really changed is the frankness of the editorials, the quality and diverse origin of the guest writers and the defense of certain values like the role of women in Saudi society and criticism of religious extremism. In addition, the lighter content of the back page provides a note of joy and optimism to the eyes of the reader.

Keep up the good work my friend Khaled, and congratulations to the highly professional team behind Arab News.

- Pablo Bravo is the ambassador of Spain to Saudi Arabia.