Saudi minister stresses need for dialogue

Riyadh: Dialogue is the best way to resolve any problems in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal said yesterday, adding that Muslim clerics had banned protests in the wealthy kingdom.

"The best way to achieve what citizens want is through dialogue whether in the eastern region, or the western, southern and northern regions," the minister told a news conference.

Meanwhile, Prince Turki Al Faisal, former Saudi ambassador to the United States, said that maintaining security and stability is pivotal for the development of the country.

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.

Contributions

The lecture was under the theme "The role of Saudi Arabia in supporting global stability." He said that the Kingdom has significantly contributed in 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 major responsibility in immunising ourselves and our region, examining our policies and positions as all this could consolidate our dealing with what is happening around us these days," said Prince Turki.

Saudi Arabia has been closely following demonstrations for fear they may spread to the Kingdom.

It was reported that thousands of Saudis are using social networking sites to urge the public to demonstrate tomorrow.

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".