JEDDAH, 26 August 2006 — Saudi Arabia's experiment with the national dialogue program has been successful and there is every reason to believe that the experiment can prove equally popular in other Arab and Islamic countries, said the former Kuwaiti ambassador to the Kingdom Jaber Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah.
Jaber said, “I believe that the Saudi experiment with dialogue will be widely welcomed in the GCC countries and also in Arab and Islamic nations in the same way that they were widely welcomed in the Kingdom. This is not difficult to understand because no person in his right mind can reject dialogue or the principle of exchanging views with the aim of arriving at a solution.”
The program, which is sponsored by the King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue, has already enabled Saudis to take part in national dialogue forums to discuss various challenges facing the country with the aim of evolving national viewpoints and building consensus. The ambassador also expressed the hope that the new program would speed up the pace of the country's progress.
He pointed out that the member nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) maintain close cooperation at various levels. There are also close consultations among parliaments and legislative bodies of member nations with the aim of improving the daily life of the people. He added that more often than not dialogue begins with the submitting of a subject for discussion. This is followed by wide exchanges of views on the subject. At some stage of the discussions, the participants may arrive at solution in the form of recommendations.
Asked if he was expecting this type of reform in the Kingdom, the ambassador replied, "Yes I was expecting this type of reform in the Kingdom." He added all those who had the opportunity to follow the history of the Kingdom from the days of its founder, the late King Abdul Aziz, could see that the country was steadily advancing along the path of progress. They could also note that the late king's sons followed in the footsteps of their father in leading the nation along the path of progress.
He added, “And now during the bright reign of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah, more development projects were launched and a long list of reforms were put in place for the benefit of all sections of the Saudi society.”
Asked about attempts by some Western countries to impose what they call democracy on the countries of the Middle East without making the same attempt to impose their version of democracy on other Third World nations, Jaber replied, "I believe that this type of attitude is closely linked with the nature of the system of governments concerned. Some governments seek to promote what they call their high national interests under different names."
