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Pastimes : The Boxing Ring Revived -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: one_less who wrote (2137)	2/14/2002 4:17:10 PM
From: gao seng	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 7720

Ismael got robbed, IMO. Do you agree with Abdel, below? Saudi prince rejects democracy Published 2/14/2002 2:53 PM BADEN BADEN, Germany, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A Saudi prince on Thursday rejected the setting up of a Western-style democracy in his country, saying it was not in harmony with the principles of Islam. "I believe that those who make such calls from time to time ignore the nature of Saudi society or seek fame," Prince Sultan bin Turki bin Abdel Aziz said in an interview with United Press International from Baden Baden where he was on a private visit. Another Saudi Prince, Talal bin Abdel Aziz, had recently told the Financial Times and Arab newspapers that Saudi Arabia needed phased political development if it wanted o join the modern world. He had called for democratic reforms and the adoption of Islamic laws that would be more in harmony with international treaties for human rights. He also called for developing the Saudi monarchy to reach a phase where the Kingdom could hold general elections. Sultan said calls "to apply democracy the Western way, including buying votes and parliament seats," were not "in harmony our Islamic religious principles which call for Shoura and consultation among the leaders of the nation." He said since its establishment more than 150 years ago, the Saudi ruling family had made efforts to "serve Islam and Muslims." He criticized those who described Saudi Arabia as the "kingdom of silence. "They forget that the Saudi leadership refused to be dragged into attempts to create tension or drastic changes that would disturb its international relations and was aware of its responsibility toward its Arab nation and Islamic world," he said. "If the hot events surrounding the Arab and Islamic worlds are sensitive and critical, dialogue for building bridges with the world remain an essential goal for the kingdom." He also criticized Talal's position on the issue. "Prince Talal -- May God guide him -- is far away from the real interaction with the kingdom's reality and he has been seen the 1950s out of touch through his calls for liberalism, overture, freedom and other empty slogans." He said Saudi Arabia had never surrounded itself with "secrets and secrecy because it is an axis country ... with sea outlets, borders with numerous countries, the presence of the holy places, oil, sensitive location and history." He praised Saudi King Fahd and his government for "their deep awareness of the events in this region." "We have foreign relations with various forces like any other country and sometimes there is a distance or agreement but this does not mean that we lack independent decision," he said. He also touched on the Saudi support of the Palestinian cause and its "criticism of international positions, including the United States for its silence and support of Israel, at a time many countries were silent." Copyright © 2002 United Press International upi.com