Sur City
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos' Speech in Sur, 1996
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Praise be to God for His great bounties and His generous favours, and prayers and peace be upon the seal of His messengers and prophets.
Dear citizens..
It is a source of overwhelming joy and renewed delight that we meet on this blessed day, on the soil of this flourishing city, whose authenticity history takes pride in, whose antiquity time boasts of, and in whose squares and courtyards the glorious heritage is fragrant.. the city of Sur.. of the venerable maritime glories whose mention travellers carried far and wide, so that it became one of the prides of the sons of Oman.
Yes.. for from this historic city the Omani sail set off, for a long era of time, roaming the seas and oceans, radiant and brilliant like a pure white cloud, carrying good to the far corners of the world and returning from them victorious with various kinds of diverse goods and commodities, in a great and regular commercial exchange that made Oman one of the important trading stations over a not-short period of time.
Honourable citizens..
As we celebrate here today the twenty-sixth anniversary of the glorious National Day, we wish — being close to those shores perfumed with the scent of the old ships — first of all to express our great pride in Oman's maritime history, inscribed by those towering masts that surged forth, in that glory-embroidered past, from the various Omani ports, ploughing the surging deep with youthful ambition, embodying the strength and capability of this country, its prestige and dignity, and its desire to connect with the civilisations of all nations, near and far. We also wish, after that, to remind the rising generations of that lofty resolve of their glorious forefathers who mounted the steeds of the seas, cleaved their mighty waves and battled their raging storms, in pursuit of a dignified living and a desire for honest work, even though it was surrounded by hardships and beset by toil on every side.
The Omani youth who aspires to the horizons of glory is called upon today to take his auspicious forefathers as a good example in diligence and work, patience and perseverance, and the burning resolve that does not fade or die down; and to believe — as they believed — that productive work, however small, is a great, strong brick in building the edifice of the homeland, by which its foundations are strengthened and its pillars rise high, and that it is the goal everyone should seek and strive towards without hesitation or disdain. For with productive work there will be no place in our society for idle hands that do not share in the movement of development and progress.
Our dear people..
In our address on the occasion of the silver jubilee of the modern Omani renaissance, we pointed out that, after we had gone through a pioneering experience in the field of comprehensive development, it was necessary for us to determine a future vision for development work, based on clear, defined policies and goals, for the attainment of which all available capabilities and scientific and technical means would be harnessed.
As you know, what we aimed at in setting this future vision is that it be a launch towards the twenty-first century that enables the Omani economy to achieve a strategic transformation, so that it no longer remains dependent on government spending, oil resources and expatriate labour, but rather moves to another, better and more comprehensive stage, finding its firm, solid foundations in private initiatives, trained national labour, and renewable, growing resources, so that all of this leads, God willing, and within the defined time period, to raising the standard of living for Omani citizens, and ensuring that they benefit — wherever they are in the various regions — from the fruits of the development process whose wheel turns, with all vitality and vigour, in every place of this dear country, so that it can keep pace with the developments of the age in various fields. We, from this platform, on this radiant day, affirm our resolve to implement this vision, to follow up its plans and programmes, and to provide all the necessary capabilities and suitable conditions, to ensure the continuation of development within the framework of the basic axes it has defined. Nevertheless, we should not lose sight of the fact that the Omani citizen's understanding of the dimensions of this vision, his positive interaction with it, his participation in achieving its aims, and his striving to benefit from the opportunities it provides, are necessary matters for creating a general climate that helps the success of the steps taken, the changes introduced, the methods adopted and the tools used. For without this interaction and participation the obstacles will be great, and the results may even be — God forbid — less than the hopes and aspirations. Hence, every Omani is required to contribute, to the extent of his ability, to creating the appropriate environment and the fertile soil for Oman's launch towards the promising future to which we look forward.
The Fifth Five-Year Plan represents the first step on the path of the future vision for development work. It is the executive programme for the axes, policies and mechanisms adopted to achieve economic balance, continuous self-sustained growth, the development of human and natural resources, and the creation of a distinguished role for the private sector that enables it to use these resources in a manner characterised by responsibility, expressing a sincere national sense that springs from a true belonging to Oman.. this great country for whose renaissance and elevation we must all work.
Esteemed citizens..
The new Five-Year Plan has given special attention to providing the financial allocations for the education and vocational-training sector, proceeding from the fact that this type of education is the basis for qualifying the Omani workforce to gradually replace expatriate labour. It is a vital matter that the development and modernisation of the policies and curricula followed in this field continue, in order to meet the labour market's needs for skilled and semi-skilled Omani cadres at the various professional levels. It is no secret that many training opportunities are now available, whether in government educational institutions or licensed private institutes. Hence, the Omani youth have a duty to benefit from these opportunities that open for them the path to joining the ranks of productive workers. Society as a whole must also be aware of the importance of technical education, and work to encourage, promote and support it, following the example of other societies that have preceded us in this field.
Just as we are keen on developing human resources, we also seek to invest the natural resources in order to diversify and broaden the economic base. Within this scope comes the liquefied natural gas project, for it is one of the great steps that aim at creating diverse and renewable sources of income. Its implementation will entail a number of economic returns, including achieving additional funding sources for development projects in the coming plans, reviving the economic cycle of capital within the national economy, and the establishment of a service base to support the businesses related to the project in the Wilaya of Sur and the neighbouring regions, whether in the field of real-estate, tourist, banking or industrial services. This is in addition to creating numerous job opportunities, and helping Omanis acquire new, rare skills.
In confirmation of what we see as the necessity of making optimal use of the Sultanate's distinguished geographical location, an agreement was signed last October for the concession to establish and manage an international container terminal at the port of Raysut. This project is one of the largest commercial maritime projects, and it will contribute directly to invigorating commercial and industrial activity, and to the establishment of many complementary service facilities. The varied opportunities this provides for citizens at their various scientific and technical levels are not hidden. There is no doubt that this agreement is an accomplishment of one of the main goals of the future vision for the Omani economy, because it falls within the scope of what it called for of diversifying the sources of income and benefiting from the location that distinguishes the Omani ports — praise be to God.
Within the framework of the strategic outlook for the Omani economy and its basic pillars, and in response to the global developments that have proven the importance of large economic groupings, the Sultanate has actively participated, during the past months, in laying down the rules and arrangements for forming an economic grouping of the countries overlooking the Indian Ocean, aiming at expanding commercial exchange, economic integration, invigorating the movement of tourism and direct investments, developing human resources, and transferring technology, while working to remove obstacles and encourage communication between the member states, without prejudice to any obligations of these states imposed by agreements or arrangements of regional cooperation.
The Indian Ocean has always been the main gateway for the Omanis, through which they set off to the countries lying on its shores, and then to the broad, vast horizons beyond them. Here we are today connecting our bright present with our ancient, splendid past, within the framework of this new grouping that comprises countries between which there are historical commercial links, common economic interests, and close development goals that call them to coordinate their efforts in facing the challenges posed by the successive economic developments across the international arena.
Honourable citizens..
It is clearly evident that the State attaches great importance to diversifying the national economy, and providing job and training opportunities for citizens. However, that does not mean everything in the field of what we seek of building the Omani person and preparing him for the future, for this building and preparation are not completed, in our view, merely by providing the means of material welfare, economic prosperity, and the vocational training that qualifies the individual to fill some post in the government or the private sector; rather it is necessary, alongside all that, to take all the means that guarantee raising the citizen with a sound upbringing, supplying him with knowledge and culture, and preparing him in an integrated and comprehensive manner that makes of him a productive element in his society, aware of what is in the interest of his nation, of penetrating insight and sound judgement of matters, so that he can thereby serve his homeland, and participate in making the right decision at multiple levels that differ according to his position in the social structure.
In the past era of the blessed renaissance, we observed the application of that comprehensive outlook, by providing all the conditions and taking all the means leading to this integrated building. One of the prominent aspects in this field was that we made available to him gradually — through the State Consultative Council first, and after that through the Shura Council — the means of participating in discussing the affairs of his country, and offering opinion and counsel on the matters put forward for examination, as his contribution to making the national decision at the level of the State.
Praise be to God, He Almighty wrote success for the experience, and so we decided to take another step aimed at widening the circle of shura that the upright religion urged, by establishing a new council, named the State Council, alongside the Shura Council, to be another positive tributary in the field of constructive cooperation between the government and the citizens, for the common good and benefit. The council will comprise another élite of the sons of this dear homeland whom we shall appoint from among those who have the experience and the ability to enrich the process of shura, and to push it to greater success in achieving its lofty goals and noble aims.
As a culmination of the efforts of a quarter-century of devoted work and fruitful giving, we have issued, as you know — honourable citizens — the Basic Statute of the State, which is the summary of the pioneering experience we have gone through during the past period. This historic document has defined the State and its system of governance, and determined the principles guiding its policy in the various fields. It has also set out the public rights and duties, and detailed the special provisions for the Head of State, the Council of Ministers and the judiciary.
It referred to the specialised councils, financial affairs, and the Council of Oman, and referred the statement of the provisions in each of them to the decrees and laws that will be issued in this regard.
There is no doubt that this Statute is the basic foundation from which we launch towards achieving more progress, advancement and development, and we pray to God Almighty to surround it with His care and guidance, so that, by His help, it may bring forth its good, blessed fruits.. He is capable of what He wills, and He is the best Master and the best Helper.
Dear citizens..
God, exalted is His power, has endowed our region with an abundance of riches, energy foremost among them. With these riches the interests of many countries throughout the world have become linked. Therefore they seek to support the region's stability to safeguard those interests, and in the light of this reality it is clear that the stability in this vital part of the world, and the continuation of security and tranquillity in its societies, depend on the extent of the ability of its states not to provoke the international community in any way, whether by threatening interests or by interfering in the affairs of others, whatever the justifications. Therefore it is the duty of all to abide by the principles of peaceful coexistence between states, and to respect the rules of international law regulating rights and duties, on the basis of a sincere desire to spare the region the factors of instability, and to enable it to continue growth and prosperity. It is not new for us to say that the states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf exert their utmost effort in this direction in order to preserve the great achievements they have made during the past era. There is no doubt that building trust among the Council's states, and not allowing the difference of viewpoints — which may occur from time to time — to deviate them from their great goals of stability, economic integration and social welfare, are among the most important factors in consolidating the pillars of security and tranquillity, and in the continuation of growth and development in these states. The interweaving of the interests of their sons also strengthens the bonds of brotherhood among them, and reinforces the ties of cooperation, mutual support and solidarity that a number of facts uniting them call for, namely the bonds of creed, the ties of kinship and blood, and the links of neighbourliness and common interests.
If we move to our larger Arab milieu, we affirm anew that we have supported the march of peace in the Middle East, and that we still support it, and despite the obstacles that emerge from time to time, it is observed that fixed realities have been accomplished on Palestinian land, and that there are other, more important realities that we are pushing towards accomplishing so that they may come into being, on all tracks. It must be said — honourable citizens — that the peace process is in itself a historic act, and a noble goal that cannot deviate from its course as a result of a change in the interim policies of the parties to the conflict. It is a continuous march, and it will not stop, God willing, until peace is achieved, harmony prevails, and all enjoy security and safety.
Our dear people..
It pleases us, as we celebrate together this great day on which we remember our glories in the past, take pride in our achievements in the present, and express our ambitions and hopes for the future, to extend to you all our congratulations, and to single out with our greeting our valiant armed forces and all the security apparatuses, vigilant over the protection of the homeland, the safety of society, and the guarantee of stability and tranquillity.
God the Most High, the Almighty, has been with us in all our past steps, guarding us with His care and providence; so to Him be praise for what He has given and bestowed, and to Him be thanks for the guidance and the right direction. To Him, from this place, we raise the palms of supplication in humility, praying from sincere hearts that He take us by the hand to more good and growth, advancement and progress, dignity and strength, and that He gather us next year in Salalah, the city of authenticity and glory, having covered a greater stretch towards the great goal to which we set our course and quicken our pace, urged on by a great hope of attaining lofty heights of sovereignty and pride, welfare and prosperity.
May God grant you success, and may you be well every year.
And peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings,,,