MANAMA, 16 December 2006 — A new book of poems by Saudi diplomat and poet Ghazi Al-Gosaibi was released here in a high profile ceremony attended by key Bahraini ministers on Thursday.
Bahrain’s deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa and Minister of Information Mohammed bin Abdulghaffar were some among the many dignitaries who attended the launch ceremony.
“Flight of the Falcon” includes selected translated poetry on politics, love and personal experiences from Al-Gosaibi’s previous published works.
His 1997 political poem “Bibi,” which ridicules right-wing former Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is also included in the 179-page book that was under taken by the Bahrain-based foundation of Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo award for excellence and creativity.
Bahraini under-secretary for public works affairs at the Works and Housing Ministry, Nayef Al-Kalali, carried out the translation of the book’s 21 poems, the oldest of them dates back to 1957.
Al-Gosaibi who is considered by many as a ‘renaissance man’ of modern Saudi Arabia was born into a merchant family in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province of Al-Ahsa.
He received his early education in Bahrain, before obtaining a law degree from the University of Cairo in 1961.
In 1964, he obtained an M.A. in international relations from the University of Southern California, and in 1970 obtained a Ph.D. in political science from the University of London.
He played an important role in Saudi’s rapid modernization during the 1970s and 1980s holding posts as Minister of Industry and Electricity (1976-1983), then Minister of Health (1983-1985).
Al-Gosaibi, who has authored more than 11 books, was also Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Bahrain and later the UK before being appointed as Labor Minister. Just last November Al-Gosaibi announced a 25-year strategy to fight unemployment among Saudis, which according to latest official estimates, is 9.1 percent among men and 26.3 percent among women.
