ABU DHABI // Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has lauded Prince Saud Al Faisal, who recently retired as Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister after 40 years of service.
In an article entitled The Dynamic Man, Sheikh Abdullah described Prince Saud as a rare figure in the history of Arabs and Muslims, whose eloquence, decisiveness and shrewdness had earned the admiration of others.
Sheikh Abdullah also said that Prince Saud had served to defuse tension in times of political crisis in the region for four decades.
“Those who do not know him would say he is a sophisticated minister and a peerless politician. Those who do know him would add that he is also a peerless teacher and intellectual,” Sheikh Abdullah said.
When he heard Prince Saud had resigned, Sheikh Abdullah said he told his colleagues “that whoever described him as the Henry Kissinger of the Arabs was unfair.
“What used to make Prince Saud Al Faisal happiest was when he could carry out a mission where nobody knew he was its engineer and the man behind its success.”
He also said Prince Saud was always “completely clear and candid”.
“Politicians live in a world of circumlocution and compliments that do not serve the goals,” Sheikh Abdullah said.
“A friend of mine asked me once to describe Prince Saud Al Faisal in just one word. ‘Dynamism’, I said.
“That is because I have never seen a foreign minister who is that dynamic and active. Diligence and activity were among his remarkable traits.”
Sheikh Abdullah added that Prince Saud was polite, well-bred and fair-spoken and always made his position clear to his counterparts, arguing this was dictated by his conscience.
“His straightforwardness made even those who disagreed with him to call him and seek his advice in times of crisis,” he said.
“Despite the fact that Prince Saud Al Faisal has already laid the foundations of Arab diplomatic action, I am sure that our meeting table will always miss him.
“Our hearts, however, will always be filled with love for this noble man, whom I pray to Allah Almighty to grant long life, good health and happy life,” Sheikh Abdullah said.
rhaza@thenational.ae
