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| Arabia |
| No threat seen to stability of Kingdom |
| 2011-03-12 |
| [Arab News] A number of ambassadors in Riyadh have challenged reports of instability in the Kingdom. Speaking to Delhi-based daily, Business Standard, India's Ambassador Talmiz Ahmad said Indian business executives should have "no apprehensions" about the Kingdom. "Indian investors can participate in Soddy Arabian projects with complete confidence and satisfaction that they will be welcomed by the business community," he said. The disturbances happening in other Arab states had not impacted on Soddy Arabia, he said. British Ambassador Sir Tom Phillips underscored the public's warm reception of King of the Arabians, Sheikh of the Burning Sands, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah's return to his country after some months abroad for medical treatment as a sign of the country's stability. "The crowds that lined the streets to welcome King Abdullah back to Riyadh last month were a vivid demonstration of the popularity of King Abdullah," he told Arab News. "The series of royal decrees that were announced that day showed the king's determination to maintain the process of reform and to continue to meet the aspirations of the Saudi people." The ambassador was referring to the $29.5 billion package of social programs announced by the king as he returned home, including a 15 percent pay rise to employees of the government -- the largest employer of Saudis -- unemployment assistance and consumer debt relief. US Ambassador James Smith told Bloomberg the US saw no reason to think that the Kingdom's stability was going to be affected. Unlike the situation in Libya where the people had become so disconnected to the Qadaffy regime and elsewhere in the Arab world, he said, "there is an ongoing dialogue between the people and Al-Saud family." Similar views came from retired American diplomat Ryan Crocker. The Saudi government and those of other GCC states are "very sensitive to their populations, and have made numerous changes," the former US ambassador consecutively to Leb, Kuwait, Syria, Pakistain and Iraq told energy executives in Houston on Wednesday. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 And if there are a threat---nobody in liberal Europe, or enlightened USA, will even dream of interfering with the House of Saud's handling of it. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2011-03-12 03:54 |