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Saudi Official Reminds Listeners That Arabs Donât Do Anything and Need Direction From Outside
Saudi Arabiaâs foreign minister has criticised US-led calls for reform in the Middle East. Prince Saud al-Faisal said Arab nations could tackle their problems themselves. .... Prince Faisal said Washingtonâs calls for reform ignored the fact that Arabs have cultures rooted in history and can handle their own affairs. .... Saudi Arabia has already promised municipal elections later this year, but says any political change will not be influenced by outside pressure. The Saudi authorities rejected criticism from Washington over its arrest of several pro-reform activists last week, saying it was an internal affair. .... He said the proposals "include clear accusations against the Arab people and their governments that they are ignorant of their own affairs. Those behind these plans ignore the fact that our Arab people have cultures rooted deep in history and that we are able to handle our own affairs." He said such calls for Arabs to join the modern world were made "as if we had not been doing anything and had just been waiting for direction from outside".
Posted by: Mike Sylwester 2004-03-24 |
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| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=28928 |