JEDDAH, 24 August 2005 — Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, yesterday reaffirmed that Saudi Arabia had nothing to do with increasing oil prices in the world market and had done everything possible to lower them.
Prince Sultan also disclosed plans for creating more job opportunities for Saudi women by allowing them to work two shifts.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Kuwaiti newspaper Assyasah, Prince Sultan highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts to strengthen the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) by making a number of concessions to the member states. He also noted the efforts of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to boost the country’s progress and prosperity by carrying out new welfare projects.
Prince Sultan noted King Abdullah’s long-standing experience in the government dating from the time of King Saud and his strong friendship with heads of state of major countries. Prince Sultan pointed out that the Kingdom’s reputation would strengthen its foreign relations.
Referring to the Kingdom’s public debts, the prince said they were created by huge expenditures during the second Gulf War which liberated Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. He estimated the Kingdom’s expenditures during the war at nearly SR100 billion.
“We have only internal debts as the government took loans from banks and other financial institutions to spend on the war and development projects while the oil prices as well as the output were low. The debts did not come about because of any negligence,” he stated.
Stressing the Kingdom’s efforts to control skyrocketing oil prices, Prince Sultan said it had increased its production to 12 million bpd from 7 million bpd. “We don’t have any tool to prevent rising oil prices except increasing production,” he said.
The crown prince said the unemployment rate in the Kingdom was very low compared to other countries. “About 500,000 Saudi women are working in education and health sectors as well as in other fields,” he said, emphasizing that women are held in high esteem in the country. “We are going to introduce a two-shift system for women government employees. The morning shift will be up to Dhuhr (noon prayer) while the other will be from afternoon to evening. This will more than double the number of women workers,” he pointed out.
Prince Sultan said Saudi Arabia did not have any security worries and commended the Saudi security forces for their crucial role in crushing terrorists.
Prince Sultan said the march of the GCC should continue uninterrupted. He said Saudi Arabia would continue to support other GCC member states as an elder brother. “We have responded favorably to their demands, especially on issues related to borders and territories,” he explained.
Prince Sultan pointed out that the rush of Saudis to pledge allegiance to King Abdullah reflected the close relations between the Saudi people and their leadership. “Our doors will remain open to the citizens,” he said noting that Islam is both a way of life and a system of rule.
Speaking about his meeting in the Vatican with the former Pope, John Paul II, he said, “The Pope said he used to pray for Saudi Arabia because it was the cradle of Islam, and the preservation of its security means the preservation of Islam and other heavenly religions,” he explained.
“We are aware of the fact that Islam is the religion of moderation, and that it advocates dealing with followers of other faiths as the people of the Book and not as enemies,” the prince said as he stressed Islam’s respect for other religions.
