(MENAFN- Arab Times) 
Ahmed Al-Jarallah Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
ONCE again, Saudi Arabia made a
major leap in international relations and its distinctive status through the
major role played by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the G20 Summit held
recently in Osaka, Japan.
Prince Mohammed had remarkable
meetings with several world leaders. His statements were of great international
interest as he reiterated his persistence to develop the Kingdom according to a
modern vision which is based on moderate humanitarian and religious principles
– the characteristics of its policies for a long time.
In this summit, Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman was at the top. He explained the Saudi and Arab reality. He
put matters on the right track when he affirmed that the steps being taken in
the modernization process are geared towards the realization of 'Vision 2030'.
This is in addition to considering openness to the world without abandoning the
principles which characterized the continuous development process in the past
80 years.
The Crown Prince's statement at
the summit delighted not only the Saudis, but all Gulf nationals as well. It is
an indication that this mega economic engine is on course and nothing blocks
its path.
Hence, world leaders extolled
what has been achieved in the past few years in a manner which gives the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia more confidence in its policies; especially through
American President Donald Trump who affirmed the appropriateness of the
Kingdom's plan in fighting terrorism, and in the economy through reaffirmation
of solidity of the Kingdom's economic status, in addition to statements made in
this regard by nations participating in the summit.
Some countries, organizations and
political groups are waging a fierce media campaign against the Kingdom in a
bid to smear its reputation and to preoccupy it with minor issues to slow down
its progress towards opening up to the world and developing its economy to
increase the level of luxury for its people.
The smear campaign is also aimed
at hindering the Kingdom from becoming a more effective entity in the world
economy. Nonetheless, those against the Kingdom are forgetting the fact that it
is a member of the group of 20 great world economies. This economic club
dictates the bearing of the world's economy and influence on world politics, so
the Kingdom has no time to engage in futile media war because the engine does
not stop at imaginary stations.
Some are striving to destroy the
Kingdom internally by destabilizing its security, while another team continues
to preoccupy it with foreign conflicts such as the ongoing one in Yemen.
Political groups, especially the
Muslim Brotherhood, the hired gangs backed by Iran and those who imagined they
have the ability to transfer chaos which dominated some Arab countries to the
Kingdom, have failed; particularly after the Kingdom recorded more successes
which raised its role. Undoubtedly, such successes helped Gulf countries
expedite their movement towards modernization and development.
All these achievements came as a
result of well-studied and wise procedures endorsed by the leadership. Despite
all that, certain observations were picked by those who are fond of the
Kingdom.
It is not a secret to say some
will benefit if the Kingdom remains closed and backward, without catching up
with modern trends. They rejected revision of laws, updating programs and
lifting injustice on citizens who fell victim to the greedy that strive to
accumulate wealth even if it is at the expense of the impoverished and their
livelihood.
Recently, we were elated because
of the fund allocated through the generous donation of Custodian of the Two
Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz to reduce the burden of families who are
in debt and cannot repay the unfair amount they incurred due to the acts of
those who do not fear Almighty Allah.
The Crown Prince, soon you will
head back to Riyadh. We hope you will open the files of inmates who are unable
to pay debts which have become unbearable because of the interests these debts
have attracted, or because the lender did not take into consideration the
situation of the borrower.
For instance, how can a lender
lend someone earning 10,000 Saudi riyals per month one or two million Saudi
Riyals, knowing very well that the borrower is not able to pay such debt?
Perhaps, the lender resorts to pushing for imprisonment of the borrower in
order to possess something the borrower owns, or just for the sake of greed
which subsequently destroys the family and displaces its members..
Indeed, the new fund will lift
many injustices on those families and their members, but regulations on loans
must be changed; in addition to allocating a portion of Zakat (alms) money
collected from companies and individuals to help people. This money, even
though it is collected without proper regulations, was allotted for the
impoverished, poor and those in debt as per the Shariah Law.
Once the system is in place, the
State and its leadership will no longer be responsible for settling debts of
those who defaulted. In fact, there will be a clear and fair mechanism, as the
case in most countries which prohibit imprisonment of a defaulter, because
these countries realize that such people will never be able to repay their debt
if they are thrown into prison.
The Kingdom has more than 10,000
defaulters and some unscrupulous companies are taking advantage of their cases
to defame the Kingdom in something which can be solved easily by enacting laws
and formulating systems to prevent the repetition of this bitter experience.
Some say that this is Saudi's
internal affair but in reality, this is a Khaliji affair considering the
Kingdom, as we mentioned earlier, is the economic engine of the Gulf. As long
as its economy is in good shape, the entire Gulf will be in good shape too.
By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
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