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has increased year after, and lifted the country from the
deep abyss of backwardness to what it is today, this has
necessitated the exertion of special and unusual efforts that
succeeded in bringing about this miraculous change and
development. I would like to point out that the people of
Saudi Arabia were very lucky, for from the very start, their
kings have considered the Saudi citizen as an absolute and
ultimate priority. Thus, in a few decades, the sons of King
Abdulaziz have effected radical socio-economic reforms
that have raised the country to a high level of development
and secured for the population an unprecedented quality
of life.
While the Kingdom possesses a quarter of the world’s
oil reserves, it occupies first position today in terms of the
extraction and exportation thereof. The export revenues still
represent the basis for the socio-economic development
of the country. Therefore, it is to the great credit of its
leaders that they have managed to take full and complete
control of the oil aspect of the economy, which has made
the Kingdom free of world oil monopolies. However,
despite the present rates of extraction of the black gold in
the Kingdom, experts say that its reserves would last for
a hundred years. For its part, the government, headed by
the King, also looks to the future and makes preparations
therefor. They have laid down, as a strategic objective,
the gradual reduction of the extraction of the liquid fuel,
on the one hand, and the acceleration of the extraction of
natural gas and the development of the industrial branches
of oil refining and of the petrochemicals, on the other.
Even today, the national economy meets the internal
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needs of the country in terms of oil chemical products,
constructions materials and many consumer goods.
Moreover, the Kingdom has at its disposal substantial fund
balances, a large part of which is invested in the economy
of foreign countries. Its banking sector, that is developing
aggressively, and has become a part of the world financial
system.
As a result of the balanced economic strategy of the
government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the country
did not feel the impact of the strong financial crises,
particularly during the Gulf crisis in the Arabia Gulf. Thus
it has exposed a large part of its reserve to develop at a
low rate under any circumstances, even those that are not
appropriate and plays an important role in protecting and
defending the region. In addition, King Fahd has decided
to reduce, by half, the prices, which had not originally
been high, of some public services. Moreover, even if the
country were to suffer any difficulties,the citizens would
always be under the care and protection of the Monarch.
The time when foreign companies used to own, wholly
or partially, the national wealth of the country, was gone
a long time ago. Today, it is the citizens themselves who
participate directly in the development of their country and
they themselves distribute the oil revenues. Hence, they
have one of the highest standards of living in the world.
They do not pay taxes; they receive loans that do nor
bear interest for building their houses. They receive free
education and medical care. Their medical care system
is equipped with the most-up-to date technology and the
high-quality medical care and education are accessible to
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the whole population, from the dwellers in major cities to
those who live in the isolated bedouin tents in the desert.
Saudis should be proud of their agricultural activity.
Three decades ago the Kingdom could not provide food
for itself. Consequently, the government, feeling the
danger of the consistent increase in the import of food,
has sharply increased its expenditure on agriculture.
Many artesian wells were dug in several areas, expensive
pumps were bought, fertilizers were used and the most
up-todate technology was applied. The result was that in
the mid-nineties of the last century the Kingdom was self-
sufficient in terms of the basic food commodities. Indeed,
it became an exporter of poultry, fish, fruits and vegetables,
and even wheat (this was in the desert, on mountainous
terrain and artificial, narrow areas!), thus competing with
the imported food commodities and driving them out of
the market.
I remember how the head of the Chamber of Commerce
and Industry has accompanied us, my husband Elman
Arasli and I, on a tour of a newly established diary factory,
explaining to us all the processes, although, by virtue of
his position, he was not supposed to know all such minute
and small details. Then he urged us to taste all the products
of the factory which were no less than twenty different
items.
I can say in all honesty that during my stay in the
Kingdom, and having tasted all the diary products of many
countries, I came to the conclusion that those produced in
the Kingdom are the most tasty. This is because synthetic
fodder does not exist in the Kingdom, and the rural
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population cultivate, in the shade of palm trees in the
fertile land, the clover that grows in abundant quantities,
with which the grateful cows are fed and produce delicious
milk.
The Kingdom has scored another world record by
erecting 29 major plants for the desalination of water,
together with hundreds of kilometers of water pipes, thus
putting an end to the permanent water shortage. Modern
roads and means of communication were constructed for
connecting all parts of the country, together with transport
means hat linked all the major regions by modern
highways. The exceptional 25 Kilometer highway was
constructed over the water of the Arabian Gulf that linked
the State of Bahrain (now the Kingdom of Bahrain) with
the Kingdom.
While the Saudis have made great progress and success
in all fields of life, they nevertheless did not blindly imitate
the West in everything. They merely confined themselves
to the adoption of the western accomplishments that did
not run counter to the moral rules and national principles
and values. In other words, and in the first place, the sons
of King Abdulaziz, who have ruled the country, have
always shown great respect to the deeply rooted traditions
of the Arabian Peninsula and popular customs and have
been staunch defendants of Islam.
In the field of international relations, the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia represents a leading country of the Islamic
world that takes into account not only its own interests
but also those of the Arab and Islamic worlds. At the same
time, it has military-political and commercial – economic
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relations with the West, particularly with the United States
of America and stands against the all-out confrontation of
the West. It firmly condemns the emerging tendency to
radicalism and all forms of international terrorism. The
Kingdom may be counted as one of the most influential
factors affecting the current processes in world politics, and
is the actual, effective force in its impact on the balance and
security of the Gulf region and the Middle East region.
Thus, pursuant to the Islamic solidarity approach, the
care given to the citizens of the Kingdom has secured for
them one of the highest standards of living in the world,.
The Kingdom confronts any crises and responds to any
calls for assistance in catastrophes, providing the needy
countries with generous assistance. It is no accident that
this country is described as “the heart of the Islamic body”.
In terms of the scope of assistance which has exceeded
seventy billion dollars during the last twenty five years,
the Kingdom has made such progress as to have left other
countries way behind. Thus refugees and displaced persons
from Azerbaijan receive basic aid from the Kingdom in the
form of food, medicine, school accessories and sacrificed
meats (2.5 to 5 thousand slaughtered sheep annually). A
bakery was established as a gift and a farm was bought in
order to provide employment for the refugees. Care was also
extended to the participants in the Karaback War in 1998.
Those disabled as a result of this fierce war have exceeded
the period of treatment at Riyadh’s hospitals. Some of them
have undergone extremely complicated surgeries.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was among the first
states to recognize the national independence of the
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Azerbaijan Republic and established diplomatic relations
therewith. The actual embodiment of the readiness of both
countries to collaborate more closely is linked with the
name of the President of the Republic, Haidar Aliyev.
The decree connected with the opening of an embassy for
our country in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the visit of
the President of the Republic that followed in July 1994,
his discussions with King Fahd bin Abdulaziz and the
Azerbaijan-Saudi Agreement on cooperation in all fields
of activity concluded by the governments of the two
countries – all these have laid down firm foundations for
the development of relations between both states.
Our two countries are successfully cooperating in the
political, economic and human fields. The Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia supports the efforts of the Azerbaijan leadership
connected with the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijan
dispute. Despite the repeated attempts of Armenia that
occupies 20% of Azerbaijan territory, the Kingdom did
not establish diplomatic relations therewith. Many major
Saudi companies have invested capitals in developing the
economy of our country. Joint establishments have been
formed, and the Islamic Development Bank has granted
easy loans for the establishment of collecting canals and
external highways for motor cars, for the redesigning of an
electricity generation plant, the re-exploitation of the freed
territory, and the reparation of the damages of earthquakes
that had hit the area of the capital, Baku.
The Saudis have also contributed financial aid
in restoring the rich collection of the ancient Arab
manuscripts that were kept at the Manuscript Institute in
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our capital (one of the founders of this institute was the
well known scholar who died a long time ago, my father-
in-law, the Republic’s academician, G. Arasli). There
is also active cooperation in respect of labor migration.
Azerbaijan doctors are now operating successfully at
medical institutions in Riyadh, Mecca, Medina, Jubail and
other Saudi cities, and their work is greatly appreciated
by the Saudi Ministry of Health. As to the patients, they
usually wait in queues before their clinics. A group of
Azerbaijan specialists are preparing themselves to join the
medical staff in the Kingdom. On the other hand, I cannot
omit mentioning the chemical scientists who came from
Azerbaijan and did a wonderful job in the Kingdom, as a
result of which they earned the respect and admiration of
those in charge of the institutions and departments wherein
they worked. In short, relations between Azerbaijan and
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia undoubtedly constitute an
accomplishment of the people of both countries, who have
many things in common and similar aspirations.
Today, towards the end of April 2002, as this book is
about to be completed, eight years have elapsed since I
first set foot on the soil of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
A long period has elapsed in our accelerating life. It has
been an active and interesting period. I have already said
that at first I experienced psychological difficulties and
depression during the first months of my sojourn here.
The environment seemed to me incomprehensible and
strange. I felt uncomfortable and annoyed by the unusual
dresses. I came to the conclusion that real life was there
in my own country. The severe heat was a source of great
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discomfort. I had no desire to leave the places which
were air-conditioned. But one morning, probably in late
September, when I went out into the garden, I suddenly
felt a wave of cool and perfumed air. I remember that this
sudden sensation made me feel that life was sweet and
full of significance and that anywhere on earth there is
something that is amazingly interesting.
Throughout the years, with some interruption, and
without depending in particular on my memory alone, I
have recorded in my diary the important and interesting
facts and events that had affected our life in the Kingdom.
While in Riyadh, during the trips we made all over the
country, I have tried not to confine my observations and
impressions to what I saw with my own eyes but have stored
what I saw in my inner intuition the world we discovered,
the odors, the sensations, the emotions resulting from
coming into contact with this world that surrounds us.
During my meetings with the princesses and ordinary
women I have always tried to understand and comprehend
their life, which was unlike our own. Therefore, I have
won many real friends. Thus, everything I saw and
experienced in this country was interesting to me. I wish
that my description of all this will convey to the reader my
own sensations of all that was interesting and beautiful
and that it will dispel any boredom that might be felt as
the pages of this book are unfolded. I take this opportunity
to express my thanks and gratitude to my husband, who
has given me such support and encouragement as enabled
me not to stop half-way and to complete what I have
attempted to do in writing this book.
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When I reviewed the manuscript of this book from
beginning to end, I discovered that it was written from a
clearly rosy point of view. But I will not change anything
in it, not a single letter, because the many things I saw
and experienced in this country have provoked my sincere
appreciation and amazement. When I first arrived in the
Saudi capital, I had to accept Riyadh as an indispensable
duty. But when I knew that at this place where there are
high-rising buildings, and hundreds of thousands of cars
roam all over the city, and the lights of advertisements
illuminate the dark night, transforming it into bright day,
when I realized that 25 years ago it was a mere desert of
many hills, where mad dogs barked all night, I thought to
myself: Isn’t this a miraculous magic?
Now I can say with all confidence that my first
impression of rejection of local life here, which I first
felt upon our arrival here, is gone for ever. I recall in
this context the saying that” one should live long in a
place in order to comprehend what exists and what has
existed previously”. I have loved this country, its people,
its stern nature, ancient, recent and most recent history,
which has taken place before our own eyes, as though we
were spectators observing the unfolding of events that
take place on the platform of a theater or on a cinema or
television screen.
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