Stopover: Saudi Arabia

Realm of wonders

Killing a person - crime against all humanity

Out visit came amid intensified anti-terror operations in Afghanistan and in-depth media coverage of the developments in this Asian nation. All we could meet in Saudi Arabia vehemently condemned the September 11 terror attacks on the US that claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people as something forbidden in the Shariah, the Islamic law, and stressed that Islam denounces cruelty, violence and brutality. In support, Saudis often adduce a verse from the holy Koran reading that killing a person is equal to killing all the humans.

Touching upon the developments in Afghanistan in a meeting with the Azeri delegates, Saudi deputy minister for information Prince Turki bin Sultan al-Saud said that "the Taleban are on the wrong track. I wish all this ended with the least casualties".

In meetings with local "Ukaz", "Ar-Riyadh", "Al-Jazira", and "Al-Yaum" newspapers, we focused on the rapprochement among the civilizations and the necessity of joining efforts to combat terrorism.

We were particularly pleased with the fair and objective assessment of international developments by our colleagues. The Azeri journalists emphasized it is still regrettable that some countries handle terrorism with double standards depending on its place and masterminds.

Leader of the Islamic world

Possessing most of the Islamic values, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a shrine for all Muslims all over the world. On top of this, the country is a means of financial relief for most Islamic nations, which have received roughly $75 billion in aid since the 1970s from the kingdom. It is also noted that the west no longer ignores Saudi Arabia's position towards international affairs as a country capable of changing the "oil diplomacy" worldwide. With estimated crude reserves of 42 billion tons, the kingdom is the largest oil exporter and the most influential nation in the Gulf region. Some sources estimate the investments made by the US and European nations in the country over the past 30 years at $600-$900 billion.

Saudi Arabia has a powerful oil refinery complex. But, it fails to produce more that the country needs. This is explained with the damage refining does to the ecology and the country's interest in construction of refineries abroad. Saudis building refineries in Philippines, South Korea, Greece, the US, where three Saudi-built refineries operate, and other countries stipulate the refining of 95% of Saudi oil in these enterprises.

The kingdom shares an important role in the world financial system. Over the past 20 years, the country's national currency, ryal, has retained its stable rate against US dollar. More and more countries opt to cooperate with Saudi Arabia, with various foreign companies active in the country.

Saudi Arabia exports $30 billion worth of goods a year, with 7 to 9 million expatriates currently working in the kingdom. Most of them come from Arabic nations, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, and Philippines. Turks working there top 100,000, with some 100 Azeris medics operating.

Being one of the founders of the Islamic Development Bank, an institution that provides assistance and non-interest loans to Muslim nations, Saudi Arabia has actually turned into the leader of the Islamic world.

(To be continued)