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TAIF/MADINA/DAMMAM/BURAIDAH/JIZAN/MAKKAH – Huge efforts have been made to tackle the problem but unemployment is rising in the Kingdom, with the latest report from the Ministry of Labor estimating it at 500,000 people.

The process of Saudization has been slow, despite the vast amounts of money the state allocates every year for the development of human resources, initiatives to employ graduates, and attempts to control the recruitment of foreigners.

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RIYADH – Plans to modernise Saudi Arabias legal system will take years due to a chronic shortage of qualified judges and lawyers.

The Kingdom said this month it would set up commercial and appeal courts in the main cities as part of a $2 billion reform to modernise courts and train judges. The move coincides with a crackdown on trading violations on the Arabs biggest bourse by slapping heavy fines on major banks or withdrawing licenses for financial firms.

The United States last month also removed Saudi Arabia from a list of alleged intellectual property violators, citing a better law enforcement environment.

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RIYADH – The omission for want of space of about 50 percent of the publishing houses which applied to participate in the Riyadh Book Fair has come in for severe criticism. “The excuse of lack of space for depriving these publishing houses of an opportunity to display their titles at the fair does not hold water,” Dr. Muhammad Al-Herfi, a noted columnist, has said.

Dr. Al-Herfi and Dr. Abdullah Faifi, head of the Media and Culture Committee at the Shoura Council, also said that the cultural program of the Riyadh Book Fair needs more diversity in order to increase the chances of its success.

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The Saudi royal family and the government are working extremely hard for the development of the Kingdom, and Canada wishes to strengthen its relations with Saudi Arabia, said Dave Levac, member of the provincial parliament (MPP) and deputy minister of energy, Ontario, Canada, on his recent visit to the Kingdom.

“We want to have stronger ties with Saudi Arabia – a country that cares a lot for its people – just like Canada does,” said the minister, who was accompanied to the Kingdom by Khalil Ramal, MPP and assistant immigration minister, Ontario Canada. The visit, organized by the Canadian Dawa Association (CDA) in cooperation with the Forum for Social Studies, United Kingdom, sought to promote a better understanding of Saudi Arabia and enhance bilateral relations between the two countries.

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JEDDAH – The fate of the proposed unemployment benefit scheme will be decided in six months time, according to a member of the Shoura Council which last month voted for further study of the proposal.

Saoud Al-Shamari, who sits on the Shouras Administration and Human Resources Committee, said the Council was “gathering data and studies related to the proposal to look at it from all aspects – the economic, social and psychological”.

“If the conclusions are accepted, it will be put to a vote in the Shoura Council before going for royal approval,” Al-Shamari said.

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JEDDAH – Dr. Bandr Al-Aiban, President of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), said that society must facilitate procedures to enable women to get their rights in accordance with Islamic Shariah.

Addressing a press conference on the occasion of International Womens Day, he said that the simplification of procedures would enable divorced women and widows to obtain their rights and all necessary official documents as quickly as possible. He pointed out that the delay in such procedures always has a negative effect on families and children.

Al-Aiban also stressed the importance of allowing women to run their own affairs and of securing more job opportunities for them. He said that women had made a great success in the practical and scientific fields and that the Cabinets Decision No. 120 referred to the creation of more job opportunities for Saudi women.

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RIYADH – Bandar Hajar, Deputy Chairman of the Shoura Council, said King Abdullahs speech would serve as a guideline for the councils work over the coming year, and described the backing of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques as the “inspiration” behind its “remarkable achievements”.

“The support from the King and the Crown Prince helps explain its many significant achievements, particularly in updating laws and improving the work of ministries and government bodies,” Hajar said.

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RIYADH – Umar Khan Ali Sherzai, Ambassador of Pakistan, Sunday called on Abdullah Aal Al-Sheikh Chairman of the Shoura (Consultative) Council and discussed matters of mutual interest and cooperation between the Shoura Council and Pakistani Parliament.

Sherazi conveyed the greetings of Chairman of Pakistan Senate Farooq H. Naek and Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Fahmida Mirza to the Shoura chairman.

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“IN the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, prayer and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family and companions.
Dear brothers, peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
With Allah’s help and blessings, we open the work of the second year of the fifth term of the Majlis Al-Shoura, asking Allah Almighty to help us all to serve our religion, our country and our people, the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
We cannot achieve our hopes and aspirations without a dependence on Allah and the help of the people of this country. If this is in place, our dreams will come true. I say this because I have to point out that our current achievements have not met all our aspirations which we have sought to ensure our country is ranked among the developed countries of the world. A State that is based on the word of Tawheed (oneness of God) and whose flag was raised by the late King Abdul Aziz, is able (God willing) to achieve what it seeks patiently.
The unity and power of this country imposes a collective responsibility on us to defend it at a time when the ambitions of our enemies, haters and aggressors have increased. This requires us to be vigilant. Therefore, there is a double responsibility that has to be shared by everyone wherever they are. The homeland is for all of us. All of us will be measured according to our efforts, sacrifices and dedication to a country whose foundation is based on the pillars of Islam. This is the criteria that will test the caliber of the people of this country.

The ‘word is like a sword’
You are all aware that the word is like a sword. I urge everyone to realize this. If the word becomes a tool for settling scores, to gossip, and to charge people randomly, then the word will become a tool for destruction. This does not mean a ban on constructive criticism. Therefore, I ask everyone to fear Allah in their words and actions, to shoulder their responsibilities and not to become a burden on their religion, homeland, and parents.
We are part of the Arab, Islamic, and international world. Our role is based on defending their rights and making sacrifices for unity in their ranks. Any fair person cannot deny our role in this regard. We will always be keen to adopt their just cases. This will only be achieved through unity. At the international level, our position is clear and based on friendship and promotion of peace among peoples and nations.

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RIYADH – The Speaker of the Shoura Council, Dr. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Aal Al-Sheikh, has praised King Abdullah for his support of the work of the body.
The King opened the second year of the fifth Term of the council here Sunday.
In his speech, Aal Al-Sheikh said that since the council was launched by the late Founder King Abdul Aziz 85 years ago, and thanks to King Abdullah, it has achieved a number of milestones.
Aal Al-Sheikh said the council held 77 sessions last year and issued many decisions about regulations, performance reports and agreements.
The Speaker said the council was keen to assume its role to reach out to serve the public. It has also extended its efforts to take part in regional and international forums outside the Kingdom.
On the economic front, the Kingdom achieved a great deal in terms of construction of projects, he said.
He praised the King for extending the international scholarship program for five years, and the King’s approval for the state to pay 50 percent of fees for those students studying at private colleges and universities for five years.
Addressing the King, the Speaker said: “You have ordered payment of SR1.166 billion for the families covered by the social security system, to grant SR1 million to each family who had a member die as a martyr in the flash floods of Jeddah, and your order to build 10,000 housing units for the displaced at the southern border.”
He said the Kingdom has also maintained the same foreign policy of its Founder King Abdul Aziz, which is “based on values of mutual respect of sovereign nations, peaceful settlement of disputes, abiding by principles and international resolutions and cooperation with the world community”.
“In accordance, you took part in the economic summit of London for G-20, where you explained wisely to the whole world the Kingdom’s perspective on how to tackle the world crisis.”
The ceremony Sunday lasted for 25 minutes.
It was attended by Emirs, ministers, scholars, military commanders and members of the diplomatic corps in the Kingdom. The council had sent invitations to about 600 senior officials of the government and ambassadors.
The Shoura Council gave Sunday off to about 500 employees who were not part of the preparations, to ensure less traffic. The ceremony was held in the council’s Royal Dome that has more than 600 seats and is allocated for such occasions.
The ceremony was widely attended by the media including news agencies and satellite channels. Several channels broadcasted the ceremony and officials statements. – Okaz/SG/SPA