Reading between the lines in Riyadh

The art of diplomacy is being tested in capitals around the world these days as events in the Middle East and North Africa continue to thunder and roll through the region. In Saudi Arabia, it seems it is no different. I saw evidence of that today at, of all places, the opening of Saudi Arabia’s huge international book fair in Riyadh.

India has been chosen as an “honored guest” this year, its books featured prominently in at the sprawling convention center playing host to the event. Naturally, it meant India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Talmaz Ahmad, was invited to give a speech.

In front of a crowd that included Information and Culture minister Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja, Ambassador Ahmad gave brief remarks about books and writing that appeared to endorse the uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia and Lebanon.

“Truly there is now an intellectual ferment in the Arab world. This is a new ‘nahda’ ,” Ahmad said, using the Arabic word for renaissance. “This is a new dawn.”

The ambassador went on.

“I am happy that a number of Indian scholars of Arabic are present with us and will discuss with their Arab friends the intellectual ferment that is sweeping the region. This interaction will be helpful to define our contemporary predicament when young men and women with very demanding aspirations, are seeking a place for themselves in a new society whose dawn has just broken.”

Now, the speech may not be that much of a surprise given that India’s government is on record supporting Egyptian protestors and condemning Muammar Gaddafi. But Ambassador Ahmad is well aware he is speaking in a nation and to a government that is eyeing events in the region warily and where young Saudis are signing up to Facebook campaigns calling for their own uprising.

I found the ambassador after his speech and asked him whether he had been referring to events in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya . He said yes. Then I mentioned that the government in Saudi Arabia would not want to see street protests. His reply was, not surprisingly, diplomatic, with something to appeal to both the government and the governed.

“Let’s be clear I am not talking about protest on the street. I am talking about the renaissance in the broadest possible way. There’s no reason to go immediately rushing to protest. That’s not the issue at all. But many people are happy. Many people have said, I am proud to be an Arab. What is ending is imperialism. When colonialism ended we in India became free and had a republic. It did not end here because you had imperialism and imperialism means that instead of ruling directly, you rule through despots who are in your pay. The overthrow of such despots and the coming into its own of an entire people, is the renaissance, ” he said.

What about Saudi Arabia I asked. Is it different?

“Every country has its own pace. Europe had fascism until 50 years ago. Not every country evolves. It evolves on the basis of its own ethos, its own peoples’ aspirations and in their own sense of what they want for themselves, ”Ahmad said.

With that, the ambassador representing the world’s largest democracy smiled and walked away.

One other bit of diplomatic news to note here today. Libya’s diplomats in Saudi Arabia have stated publicly that they stand by their embattled leader. No need for clarification there.

Here’s the audio of the Indian ambassador’s speech so you can hear it for yourself.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download MP3