We have wholeheartedly welcomed Crown Prince Abdullah’s initiative for a national dialogue which culminated in the recent forum in Riyadh. Saudis from all walks of life sat together for four days, discussing pressing issues facing the country. This step is one which should be appreciated by everyone.
At this point, I would like to make some remarks which, I hope, will help us avoid mistakes in future. It is true that the gathering was shrouded in secrecy but still some news managed to leak out regarding the topics, the way discussions proceeded and the positions taken by various participants.
The public is eager to learn more about the forum and its final outcome. The public is interested in finding out how healthy, constructive and lively the debate was. No one expected the delegates to waste time in futile discussions. The people want to see recommendations that reflect their hopes and aspirations in achieving comprehensive national unity based on diversity. People hoped for specific and unambiguous recommendations. Instead they found themselves plowing through a final statement that, with the exception of two or three recommendations out of a total of 22, was written in very vague and generalized language. It was no different from the usual bland and noncommittal wording used by news agencies when reporting recommendations and resolutions adopted in conferences and symposiums.
The forum has come out with recommendations that some believe do not reflect the significance of the important gathering; for an extraordinary meeting, only the most ordinary recommendations were put forth.
Many who read the statement say that the recommendations fell short of their expectations and that there was nothing new in either the process or the recommendations. That of course is just a nice way of saying the whole thing was a pointless failure.
In my opinion, based on what was leaked and what I heard from private sources the meeting was not a failure. On the contrary, it was successful and managed to achieve what was required of it at the initial stage. Such a performance will definitely lead to concrete successes in future. I am aware that many of the recommendations were not made public. I was even told by some that what was finally made public represented no more than a third of the recommendations. I can understand and appreciate this because it may be wiser if not all that came out of the meeting is made public.
Nevertheless, I wish the forum has come up with a concise description of what happened written in clear and simple language and explaining the reasons for the forum, its objectives and main areas of discussion. I also wish the public more involved in the idea of strengthening national unity.
Some may see in withholding part of the deliberations and recommendations a contradiction of the principle of transparency that we support. To these, I say that telling half the truth may sometimes be less dangerous than withholding all the truth.
Arab News From the Local Press 5 July 2003
