His Majesty also recognized the role that dialogue has played in the past and the role it can play in shaping the Kingdom’s future and progress towards democracy. Stating numerous past experiences taught us that dialogue is the path which helps achieve our hopes and aspirations. It is through dialogue that we have unified our patriotic stances in the face of any external threat or interference. Through dialogue we have laid down appropriate foundations for our constitutional system. We have even written our constitution together. Then through dialogue, we concurred on our National Charter and modernization of the constitution. In the past year, the National Dialogue succeeded in accomplishing many of our socio-political aspirations building on what we had already achieved. So, what prevents us from continuing to build on what we have already achieved?
His Majesty also commended the unified and patriotic stance of citizens in the face of the difficult challenges endured this year, stating, We have been quite alert and well aware of hostile ambitions that could come from without the country. However, we are not unaware of our internal problems and we have always striven to solve and overcome them like other countries that respect their peoples and seek what is in their best interest and welfare.
“We diligently seek to solve [our people’s problems and improve their conditions and raise their standards without any discrimination or exclusion of anybody under the rule of law, social justice and the principles of true citizenship,” His Majesty said, adding that the Kingdom has become a nation of institutions that guarantees and maintains rights, the law, the constitution and separation between authorities, democracy and human rights.
His Majesty also spoke of the occasion of convening the OIC Extraordinary Summit in Mecca and reiterated that the Palestinian issue is the central issue for joint Islamic action and that it is imperative to work towards finding a comprehensive, permanent just solution for the issue. He also expressed concern for the violence in Syria stating that it has become imperative to seriously contemplate the situation in all of its dimensions and stressed the need to pool the efforts of the international community in order to find a political solution to the crisis and bring the violence to an end, restoring and preserving the unity and cohesiveness of the Syrian people.