RIYADH, 23 October — Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, has said that the Kingdom does not plan to give social security allowance to the jobless.
"If the unemployed get accustomed to receiving money they will stay home and get used to laziness. It is not the policy of the state to encourage this."
Prince Sultan was speaking to reporters here on Monday night. On being adjudged this year’s Sheikh Rashid Prize for Humanitarian Personality, he said: "There are people better qualified than me in the Kingdom or other Arab countries who deserve the prize. I wish the prize money is used to serve our religion and nation."
He said he was optimistic about the forthcoming national budget.
Asked if the Kingdom was reviewing its agriculture policy, particularly its wheat policy, he said: "This matter is left to the ministers concerned and the point of reference for this matter is the Shoura Council and the state." On efforts to stave off a US strike on Iraq, he said: "The Kingdom’s policy is clear and open; it is upto Iraq itself to avoid a war."
Reacting to Western accusations that Saudi charitable societies are supporting terrorism, he said: "The Kingdom was the first to suffer from terrorism. The charitable societies and the people behind them are working for the good of humanity, not terrorism. It is wrong to think otherwise."
Asked about possible appointment of Prince Turki Al-Faisal, former intelligence chief, as ambassador to Britain, Prince Sultan said: "He is qualified for any job." However, he stated that it should be decided by the foreign minister.
