By Genc Mlloja
Senior Diplomatic Editor
“The whole world is now talking about post coronavirus era wondering: When will things return to normal? From my point of view, it is going to be awhile before things go back to normal, especially economically and socially,” has said the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Tirana, Abdelmomen Mohammed Sharaf.
At the outset of the conversation the Ambassador dwelt at length on preventive measures taken by Saudi authorities who have imposed a 24-hour curfew during the five-day blessed Eid al-Fitr holiday to protect the health of the citizen and the residents, and to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
Regarding the concerns about this year’s Hajj, it is too soon to talk about this issue. “The authorities in Saudi Arabia have asked Muslims across the world to wait until there is more clarity about the coronavirus pandemic before planning to attend the annual Hajj pilgrimage,” he announced.
A special topic of the interview was the pandemic’s negative consequences and measures which have been taken by the Saudi government for the citizens to be less painful despite the enormity of the crisis, to maintain country’s financial stability and avoid entering into a great recession that would have impact on economic growth and would increase unemployment rates.
“The Covid-19 pandemic and the precautionary measures taken by the countries of the world have caused the biggest shock to the energy sector with an unprecedented drop in oil demand, which has negative impact on the prices, leading to a sharp decline in Saudi oil revenue, which represents a great source of public revenue for the state budget,” said Mr. Sharaf.
Speaking of the recent developments on energy sector on international level, specifically the fluctuation in oil price due to the decline in global consumption which has resulted in an increase in crude oil inventories, Riyadh’s top diplomat to Tirana underlined that Saudi Arabia, OPEC + group and other countries are seeking to restore the desired balance of oil market. “During the past week Saudi Arabia decided to cut its crude oil production by an extra voluntary amount on top of a reduction already committed by the Kingdom under the OPEC+ cut deal,” he noted, expressing the hope that joint and combined effort will be made by all oil producing countries in order to address the weakness of demand in the global markets, which helps to keep world oil reserves at a reasonable level.
Answering a question if the world is in need of a “new global normalcy” Ambassador Ashraf thought that the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed certain patterns of the social life and lifestyle. “I think that when these difficult times that all world is going through due to Covid- 19 pandemic are over, civil societies will have to play a greater role in shaping of social and economic systems.”
The Ambassador revealed that he has stayed on duty in Tirana and in the embassy they have operated as a family, working side by side, assisting one another. “Since the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic, we organized our work activity in a manner conforming with the instructions issued by the Albanian government with regard to working hours and curfews and I would like to take this opportunity to extend to my colleagues Saudis and Albanians through your respected newspaper, my appreciation and thanks for the work they did during this period,” the Ambassador said.
Mr. Sharaf was of the opinion that the Albanian authorities have succeeded in managing the current pandemic crisis effectively, due to the adoption of immediate measures from the beginning of the crisis.
“The country acted fast when the virus began to spread, imposing strict quarantine measures which, as we have all witnessed, resulted in success, enabling authorities to gradually lift the restrictions to return back to the normal life we used to have before the pandemic,” said the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Albania, Abdelmomen Mohammed Sharaf in the interview which follows:
Albanian Daily News: In the first place I thank you Mr. Ambassador for this opportunity to share your opinions with the readers of Albanian Daily News at a turbulent time such as this caused by the spread of the coronavirus pandemic worldwide and the main interest is to learn from you an overview of the situation of the crisis in Saudi Arabia.
Ambassador Abdelmomen Mohammed Sharaf: First of all, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to express my opinions through your esteemed newspaper… As we all know, the entire world is suffering the consequences of Covid-19 and my country the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is no exception to it. It is a global crisis that has cast a shadow over all aspects of normal life in the world and the Kingdom was among the first countries to feel the danger of the virus, and therefore, made very high anticipatory and precautionary efforts to prevent it, out of the government’s keenness to maintain the safety and health of its citizens and the residents on the territory of the Kingdom, by mobilizing all its capabilities in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
-Saudi Arabia will enforce a countrywide 24-hour curfew during the five-day Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday later this month due to the coronavirus. What special restriction measures have been taken and what is more particular how will the lockdown limitations affect the festive mood of the people? I have in mind the eventual cancellation of the pilgrimage (Hajj) season, scheduled in July, between Mecca and Medina.
-Yes, authorities in Saudi Arabia have imposed a 24-hour curfew during the five-day blessed Eid al-Fitr holiday, out of the keenness of the authorities to protect the health of the citizen and the residents, and to prevent the spread of the pandemic. As you know, the celebrations of the blessed Eid Al-Fitr which holds significant importance in the life of Muslims, are associated to the habits of visiting, family gatherings, holding banquets, which significantly contribute to the spread of coronavirus and its transmission from one person to another.
Regarding the concerns about this year’s Hajj, it is too soon to talk about this issue. The authorities in Saudi Arabia have asked Muslims across the world to wait until there is more clarity about the coronavirus pandemic before planning to attend the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Human life is sacred in Islam and preserving the safety of the pilgrims is an obligation so every effort shall be made to saving lives and protecting people from health threats.
-In the meantime, Mr. Ambassador, what measures have been taken to maintain financial and economic stability and overcome the unprecedented coronavirus crisis with the least damage possible as Saudi Arabia is faced with the double blow of virus-led shutdowns and crashing oil prices?
-The entire world is suffering the pandemic’s negative consequences that affected all sectors, resources and markets. The Saudi government has taken measures that have been less painful for the citizens despite the enormity of the crisis, to maintain country’s financial stability and avoid entering into a great recession that would have impact on economic growth and would increase unemployment rates. These difficult measures were initiated to maintain the achievements made in the past five years, such as increasing of homeownership rate, the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises and increasing of employment opportunities for young people.
The Covid-19 pandemic and the precautionary measures taken by the countries of the world have caused the biggest shock to the energy sector with an unprecedented drop in oil demand, which has negative impact on the prices, leading to a sharp decline in Saudi oil revenue, which represents a great source of public revenue for the state budget.
On the other hand, the necessary preventive measures taken to maintain the safety of citizens and residents and to prevent the spread of the pandemic have caused the suspension or reduction of commercial activities and this has negatively affected the volume of non-oil revenues and economic growth. At the same time, we do not lose sight of the urgent needs of the health sector, thus expenditure reductions were necessary along with measures to support the stability of non-oil revenues such as: canceling, extending or postponing some operational and capital expenditures for several programs and rearranging some of its large projects.
-As a follow up how much do they affect the life of the people, their living conditions, and which is the expected reaction of them?
– Those who have lived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia know very well how friendly, welcoming and generous Saudi people are, Muslim people who are pleased with Allah’s decree and what circumstances may dictate whether in ease or hardship. In all cases the one sentence you will hear from everybody is “All praise and gratitude belongs to Allah in every situation”. And do not forget the words of the Almighty God in the Noble Qur’an: “For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease”.
– During an interview we had in autumn last year you spoke on the efforts being made for the diversification of the economy, aimed at reducing country’s oil-dependency. As the world is gripped by the current crisis affecting among others oil industry is Saudi Arabia expediting efforts to carry out such a reform?
– As I previously mentioned, Saudi government is reviewing several measures to deal with the crisis while rearranging budgetary priorities according to the importance and efficiency of many large projects including projects which are part of Kingdom’s 2030 vision. Thank God, we look to the future with optimism and positive outlook being fully convinced that this pandemic will end and things will return to its normal path.
-Mr. Ambassador what efforts is Saudi Arabia doing on international level with partner countries to rebalance the oil market, and secondly, which is the role played by OPEC under the circumstances of this unexpected crisis?
– You might have followed during the past period, the recent developments on energy sector, specifically the fluctuation in oil price due to the decline in global consumption which has resulted in an increase in crude oil inventories. Saudi Arabia, OPEC + group and other countries are seeking to restore the desired balance of oil market and during the past week Saudi Arabia decided to cut its crude oil production by an extra voluntary amount on top of a reduction already committed by the Kingdom under the OPEC+ cut deal.
We hope that joint and combined effort will be made by all oil producing countries in order to address the weakness of demand in the global markets, which helps to keep world oil reserves at a reasonable level.
-Saudi Arabia like every country develops in all aspects, including social aspects. Please can you make an overview of some reforms undertaken in years which have been more significant in your country, and which has been their impact on the society in general that can be felt even in the current situation?
– As you pointed out, Saudi Arabia like any other country in the world seeks to achieve sustainable development in all areas, including the social aspect of development. The Kingdom has witnessed real, radical unprecedented reforms during the last period and many other significant steps will be taken in the near future on the path of reforms and openness of the society, especially after the return of more than 200,000 Saudi Arabian students enrolled at institutions of higher education in United States and worldwide, as they will bring back home their experiences from the countries they lived in for a long time and that will definitely have a positive impact in Saudi society as long as it is in line with the traditions, customs and Islamic values that are essential components of Saudi Arabia identity.
– Seeing things from the perspective of Saudi Arabia, how do you see Mr. Ambassador the world in the ‘post-coronavirus era’ due to its economic, social and political implications when even the main global sentiments among people are characterized by uncertainty and unpredictability? Is the world in need of a “new global normalcy”?
– The whole world is now talking about post coronavirus era wondering: When will things return to normal? From my point of view, it is going to be awhile before things go back to normal, especially economically and socially.
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed certain patterns of our social life and lifestyle, and I think that when these difficult times that all world is going through due to Covid- 19 pandemic are over, civil societies will have to play a greater role in shaping of social and economic systems.
-In conclusion, Your Excellency, you have stayed in Albania during this crisis. What can you reveal on this experience as at a ‘war time’ and how much has it affected the work of your Embassy? In this frame how do you assess the management of the crisis by the local authorities in Albania?
-Thank God, in our embassy we operate as a family, working side by side, assisting one another. Since the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic, we organized our work activity in a manner conforming with the instructions issued by the Albanian government with regard to working hours and curfews and I would like to take this opportunity to extend to my colleagues Saudis and Albanians through your respected newspaper, my appreciation and thanks for the work they did during this period.
From my personal perspective, the Albanian authorities have succeeded in managing the current pandemic crisis effectively, due to the adoption of immediate measures from the beginning of the crisis.
The country acted fast when the virus began to spread, imposing strict quarantine measures which, as we have all witnessed, resulted in success, enabling authorities to gradually lift the restrictions to return back to the normal life we used to have before the pandemic.
