Riyadh: Maintaining security and stability is pivotal for the development of Saudi Arabia, said Prince Turki Al Faisal, former Saudi ambassador to the United States.
Speaking during a lecture at the University of Jazan in the southern part of the Kingdom, Prince Turki, chairman of the board of the Riyadh-based King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies and former chief of the Saudi Intelligence Department, noted that Saudi Arabia has a good record in containing Arab and international disputes.
The theme of the lecture was "The role of Saudi Arabia in supporting global stability."
He pointed out that Saudi Arabia has contributed significantly to the establishment of a number of organisations, including the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), the Muslim World League (MWL) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
"The stability of our country is vital for regional and global stability and we have a major responsibility in immunising ourselves and our regions, examining our policies and positions as all this could consolidate our dealing with what is happening around us those days," said Prince Turki, referring to the popular protests taking place in some Arab countries.
Saudi Arabia has been closely following demonstrations taking place in the region for fear it may spread to the Kingdom particularly after it was reported that thousands of Saudis are using social networking sites to urge the public to demonstrate this Friday.
The Interior Ministry issued a strong statement banning all kinds of demonstrations and marches. The religious establishment, a government-appointed Senior Muslim Scholars Commission, supported the move of the Interior Ministry labelling demonstrations as "un-Islamic."
On Tuesday evening, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz was shown on Saudi TV receiving Muslim scholars and dignitaries from Qatif, the centre of the large Shiite minority in the Eastern part of Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi official media reported that the delegation reaffirmed the support of the people of Qatif to the King and praised his efforts aiming at strengthening the Kingdom's security and promoting citizens' welfare.
The King's meeting with the delegation from Qatif comes only two days after a top Shiite cleric, arrested last month, was set free by Saudi security authorities.
