SANAA, 4 November — Prince Turki Al-Faisal, former director of Saudi intelligence, has commended Yemen’s democratic achievements and called upon Gulf countries to focus on democracy and political reforms.
“Reforms, democratic process and human rights are the main topics in the Arab Gulf countries in the current phase,” Al-Riyadh newspaper quoted the prince as telling a seminar in the Yemeni capital.
He said Yemen had made rapid strides in the democratic process and openness by expanding popular participation in governance through a multiparty system and opposition and adopting a constitution.
“By doing so Yemen has become a model not only to the countries in the Arabian Peninsula but also to the whole Arab world,” the prince said.
He referred to the political reforms introduced by Saudi Arabia including the formation of the Shoura Council in 1993 with qualified and experienced members.
Prince Turki highlighted the openness of the Saudi press and said it has started openly criticizing shortcomings. “This is an important step,” he added.
Prince Turki, chairman of King Faisal Islamic Research & Studies Center, blasted the United States for its unlimited support for Israel. He warned the US against the negative impact of a possible attack on Iraq on its relations with Arabs and Muslims.
“The US-Iraq conflict will lead to disaster and will affect US relations with the Arabian Peninsular states, Arabs and all Muslims,” he said.
He said the Arabian Peninsula was greatly affected by the Sept. 11 events. “Before the events, the Americans warmly welcomed Saudis. Now they look at them as terrorists,” he said, adding the US media had played a big role in giving a bad picture of Saudis and other Arabs.
“We have to reform ourselves,” the prince said presenting a paper “On the situation of the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf after the Sept. 11 events.”
He said it was possible for the US to tackle the Sept. 11 attacks in a way that would ensure full international support and balanced ties with Arabs and Muslims.
“It should have carried out the war on terrorism under the umbrella of the United Nations and Security Council,” he added.
The Sept. 11 events were a turning point in Saudi-American relations, he said, and referred to harassment and hate crimes suffered by Saudis in the United States after the attacks.
He also criticized the arbitrary measures taken by the US against Saudi organizations and charities.
