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Changes in Kingdom deserve "Western respect," says Saudi Ambassador to US

WASHINGTON, April 22 (KUNA) -- The pace of progress on the social, educational and economic levels in Saudi Arabia deserves Western respect, not "misinformed judgment," a Saudi diplomat underlined on Friday.
In response to a recent flow of criticisms from some US media outlets, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the US Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki Al-Saud said in a USA Today column that, "people judge Saudi Arabia, sometimes quite harshly." "They seem not to notice that the modern Saudi state is barely 84 years old. In that short amount of time, we have gone from a desert kingdom to a modern country and a global leader," he said.
Speaking to US readers, he added that "progress takes time" and that it took the US some 90 years to abolish slavery, over 140 years for women to be given the right to vote and nearly 190 years before civil rights equality was the law of the land.
Prince Abdullah said that President Barack Obama, on his recent visit to Riyadh, arrived in a Saudi Arabia that is "rapidly moving toward a future where its economy is not dependent on oil." The Kingdom has been experiencing an upward economic growth trajectory of at least 5percent a year over the past decade fueled by the non-oil sector, he said.
Meanwhile, billions of dollars have been spent on economic diversification, human resources (particularly women) and renewable energies, like solar power, he said.
However, the Prince underlined that each nation should be allowed the chance to develop by applying its own traditions and heritage, pointing out that Saudi Arabia is clearly moving in the "right direction." In the modern Saudi Arabia, he said, more than 200,000 Saudis receive their education overseas, while the ratio of Saudi women with a college degree outclasses their male counterparts by a 55/45 ratio.
Saudi Arabia is "not the backward, extremist society that some critics portray us to be," he said, also mentioning that the parliament, known as the Consultative Council, is occupied by a 20 percent of women.
Nations need the "right environment" which provides every citizen the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process, he said, adding that these changes are occurring in Saudi Arabia at a pace that surpasses any other nation in history.
He also noted to the vast modern urban developments the once-desert Gulf nation is witnessing, including the introduction of skyscrapers, superhighways, modern airports, international universities, state-of-the-art hospitals and major shopping centers.
"That is not quite the image that many have of life in Saudi Arabia.," The world should "take notice" of a generation that is witnessing the start of a "remarkable transformation." He also highlighted Saudi Arabia's foreign policy based on an "unwavering leadership" on the fight against terror and militancy, humanitarian care to refugees and cooperation with neighbouring countries in the region. (end) sd.gb