In comprehensive interview with Kuwaiti Al-Siyasa paper, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said:

Nation-building has always been my top priority

Internal Omani affairs my main concern

We develop relations with other countries on mutual interests basis

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said affirmed that building of Omani national cadre has been one of his top priorities since he assumed power, which marked the beginning of the Blessed Renaissance in 1970.

In an interview with Ahmed Al Jar Allah, editor-in-chief of Al Siyasa Kuwaiti newspaper, His Majesty said: "We believe that the human factor is the basis to turn our dreams into reality. Therefore, building of a man was the main concern of the Omani government, especially when we were far away from modernity. Now we are reaping the rewards of building human resources through education and training."

"Our commitment to our real value and heritage helped us to keep abreast with the requirements of the modern age."

His Majesty the Sultan affirmed his happiness over people’s response in the process of building human resources.

Sultan Qaboos pointed out that the process of Omani Renaissance, which had started from scratch, is now a source of pride for him as well as for the Omani people, who cooperated with their leader and had shown a great sense of responsibility.

"The Sultanate has gained international recognition and it is a safe haven for the Omani national and all its residents and visitors," he said.

His Majesty the Sultan said he feels happy with the development of Oman and the filed movement. He has been touring different regions, interacting with people, living their lives, listening to their complaints and following up the path of this Renaissance and the pace of its implementation.

"The Omani people have provided me with all the support that had helped me in completing my mission," He added.

The Sultan said that the sun is rising and we don’t want it to set on Oman, which I told here "to our sons and relatives."We will restore the previous glory of Oman. The darkness will dispel. I encourage people of this country, as well as its thinkers to stand as one body to build this country, which has remained sovereign and firm throughout the different ages against all aspirations of the conquerors.

He affirmed that the Sultanate does not have any differences or discord with anyone - either on the regional or the international levels - as the Sultanate is a state of peace.

The full text of the interview is given below:

When you are in the presence of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, you definitely feel the quietness of the place and the grandeur of the personality, there is pin-drop silence. The visitors to the place speak very softly, with the lips first before uttering the words. Everything around you gives an indication of the delicate quietness. It is also enveloped by the inner and external beauty. Once you come out of the plane and touch the corridors of the airport, you will feel impressed by the beautiful scenery you see everywhere on your way to the hotel. You will see an impressive civil architectural design as if it has been made by the feather of an efficient artist. All the way to the residence of His Majesty the Sultan, you feel that everything is made with precision and without any glamour. All that surrounds you helps in calming the mind and is conducive to creativity. I don't deny that I started asking myself questions that were not in my mind. When I reached the place, I was impressed by its nature and beauty. My memory helped me to restore many issues and I found my self wanting to talk about them with His Majesty the Sultan who appeared in good health, cheerful as ever and welcoming his visitor with warmth that makes all his worries and fears disappear. When you look at His Majesty's face, you feel infinite optimism. You feel absolute serenity. As you ask questions, His Majesty keeps answering them with a regal smile. It is the smile of a Sultan enveloped by a truthfulness that ushers in security, stability and tranquility.

In the presence of His Majesty the Sultan, you are enveloped by a deep-rooted diplomacy and protocol that make you understand what are your rights and duties. Everything goes on cordially towards the end.

In this interview, I tried to approach the heart and mind of a Sultan that harbor the dreams of a commander who transcended with his strengths and firm stand on the challenges to make a modern country recognized by the world. I tried also to approach a leader with solid experiences that have made him a 'Man of Peace', an award that is bestowed only on men who believe in the importance of peace. Following are excerpts of my interview with His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Q- Your Majesty, your people and the peoples of the region who followed up the march of the Renaissance want to be assured about your health.

A- I am here in front of you and I believe that you see me enjoying full health and welfare although when we grow old, our bodies become tired and whenever your bodyweight suffers an increase or decrease, many may believe that the man is sick. We have to remember that following a good diet is a treatment. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "We are a nation that eats not until it feels hungry and when we eat, we don't stop until we are satisfied. The balance in diet means health and not bad health. I am fine and absorbed in the affairs of my country, which are my real health. I am here in front of you Mr. Ahmed, hale and hearty following the same daily program and the affairs of the country meticulously. As I told you earlier, I go to sleep with a clear mind, follow the news around me, the news of those whom we affect or get affected by and always remembering Allah, we feel serenity.

I wake up from my sleep relaxed the next morning and start follow-up paper work in front of me with accuracy because I don't like making mistakes in any decision. Whatever I approve, I will send to the respective departments for implementation. Before making decisions, I reconsider them several times to make sure that they sound right and that I did not make wrong. The land and people of Oman are in my heart and mind. My post is a rather a responsibility than a privilege. I told you we are delegated by our nations and our mission is to serve this nation that reacted with us to achieve the Omani Renaissance.

Q- Your Majesty, when you accessed the throne almost 40 years ago, your country has been a long distance from the contemporary world. When you started building this Blessed Renaissance, did you first start with building the stone or building man?

A- If you go back to my speeches and the directives since I came to power, you will find that building man has always been one of my priorities. Omanis have been dispersed outside their country. We told them to come back to a common agreement. They responded to the call and came back. Those who raised arms against the state were under certain influences. They came back and we built together the nation of today. Many of them have been in the front rallies and some of them have been in the back rallies. We are one body. The sun has risen on our country and we will regain our previous fame and strength and become a country worthy of respect and appreciation. "We believe that the human factor is the basis of turning our dreams into reality. Therefore, empowerment of countrymen happens to be the main concern especially we have been very far from the modern world. I made this clear in my speeches on numerous occasions. Now we are reaping the fruits of building strong human resources through education and training. Our commitment to our real value and heritage helped us in coping with the requirements of the modern age."

We did not ignore the construction boom – or as you say the building of stones. The more our people are trained, educated and cultured, the more we are able to achieve the prospective construction boom. You and others can sense how our country was, how it is now and how it is striving to achieve more and more.

Q- Your Majesty, this is the Renaissance you have steered. I will remind you of your speech at the start of the Renaissance. "Oman has been a great, strong and famous country, the sun will rise over it". Has the sun shone to the extent you wanted?

A- The sun is rising and we don't want it to set on Oman .I told here and to my relatives: We will restore the previous glory of Oman. The darkness will be dispelled. I encourage people of this country as well as its thinkers to stand as one body to build this country which has remained throughout the different ages sovereign and firm against all the aspirations of the conquerors. Oman has been a master in sea and land, its forts are good evidence of this. Throughout the last four decades, Oman has witnessed a Renaissance that has captured the praise of its people before its visitors, the confidence of its people before others. Still we have many more things to do and the response of the people of Oman ushers in happiness.

Q- Your Majesty, do you feel that your personal aspiration towards the Blessed Renaissance of Oman got the desired response by the executive department?

A- I told you before, when the spirits are high, the body becomes strong. I can tell you now that the executive departments including the government and advisers are making satisfactory efforts but I want quicker achievements. I also hope that nobody will miss any of my remarks. From my follow up, I can tell you that the mistakes are not willful but rather those that are made by hard workers. My role is to alert and if mistakes are recurrent, I give the role to those who do with fewer mistakes or with no mistakes. I repeat, the shortcomings, if any, are not willful and this makes me not to blame much and if I blamed, it is the blame of a lover.

Q- Your Majesty, with so many duties and concerns, are you still able to follow up the achievements and the deeds of the government with the same previous method?

A- I told you, we are human beings and with building our countrymen , things now go according to a pre-set system. People carry out assignments using systems that they have been trained on. We have our pre-disclosed plans, five-year plans, long-term plans and short term plans, all of which set out to achieve certain outcomes. This gives a sense of quietness. You don't need now to make the same efforts you made at the beginning. Yes, I monitor what is going on but it is not exhausting as it was before.

Q- Your Majesty, it is noticed that you have been occupied with arranging the house from inside before being open to the world, has the openness now been made to a satisfactory degree?

A- We have been occupied with the interior and managed to prepare the interior well. As it is said in the sound management 'if you want to become strong from the exterior, you have to be strong from the interior. The openness to outside world is part of strengthening of the interior. It is a studied openness but a sure one. Over-openness may make us lose the interests we desire for the Omani people. Yes, now we market the potentialities of Oman first inside and second outside through investments we feel that might add value to our country. The first value we look for is to absorb any manpower that may be available or unemployed. We stress that the foreign investments should have a clear added value. The interests should be maintained for both parties and not for one party at the expense of others. This is what we wanted and I think we may have succeeded in that.

Q- Your Majesty, in such openness to the degree you wanted, did you receive many investments? Have the investment opportunities that have appeared in the Omani Renaissance environment been utilized.

A- Yes, there are so many investments with different levels. Many investments are coming now but as I told you, I want investments with added value. I give you an example, when the investor comes, we open the door for him but if he is proved to be a non-serious investor, we stop him because we don't want mongers. We want to establish relations with serious investors and directly without any intermediaries. We don't mind intermediaries playing a role but their role should be limited to introducing parties to each other. The discussion about interests should be with the respective people. The size of the investment is satisfactory and diversified, some of them through the Omani private sector. Foreign expertise is also sought especially in serving the tourism industry which is very vital. While some of this expertise serves the oil exploration sector and some others develop the real state sector, others are related to real state installations that depend on the national demand.

Q- Your Majesty, I don't feel in Oman the presence of different ethnic groups and different opinions I get to see in other countries. What is the secret behind this?

A- Two years after I came to power, I remember that I delivered a speech and told my people, 'The highest rank of you is the most pious'. I also said that we are one body, one nation and the high-ranking is the one who works for his country, who contributes to its renaissance. That is why you will find our social fabric the same and it will remain like this. The Omani people have responded well to the thoughts of their leaders and this has made our national unity. We don't suffer from having different ethnic groups. The Omani people are unified, loyal to their country and its leaders, as instructed by the teachings of our religion. I remember when I spoke to people on this, their response had been quick although some may have lagged behind a little. This is natural till they understand the privileges of the idea. Our nation is built on one thought that is loyalty to the nation, its security, stability and development.

Q- You Majesty, is the land of Oman still kind and producing good, as you have said at one of your speeches?

A- Yes, and I think as a mediaman you can sense this . We don't have the seeds for any split or division. We all enjoy the shade of national unity without any split or dispute. The best of us is the one who seeks perfection in his work. No loyalty to anyone but to Allah, belief and nation. Thanks to Allah, our country enjoys stability and security as the loyalty of security personnel is to their leaders whose orders are not affected by any creed or sect or tribe. All are equal before working for the security and welfare of our nation.

Your Majesty, under such circumstances, what about inflation in your country and will the current oil prices lead to more development?

Inflation is not that worrying and is not so major. It varies from other countries in which inflation reaches high figures. Our inflation is not that critical and when reaching a specific figure sometimes, it can be described as a healthy condition for speeding up growth. No doubt, oil prices have increased the income, and if so, as experts say, such prices may not continue. Its reaching such a stage was due to dollar devaluation. However, I cannot offer speculation in this regard, but had a decline taken place, as experts say, it won't be a major one. Let us leave the oil prices to Supply and Demand.

They say that world oil reserves are full and that the market is flooded with oil, but these are the prevailing prices. No doubt that the oil prices will reflect on volume of funds in the region as it is the case in the Oman.

Your Majesty, will Oman's revenues due to high oil price be coupled with high production of oil?

Yes, there are numerous oil discoveries. I don't think that companies which do spend a lot of money on such discoveries are not sure about availability of oil. There is abundance of oil and gas and discoveries made by these companies revealed oil and gas reserves at various locations. Of course this will augment production and will have its effect on the national income. By the way, let me tell you that our national income is increasing, additionally, there are the sovereignty investment products which consist of the general reserves.

Also, the private sector has been active locally and abroad. There is also financial flow from the tourism and other sectors. We are also investing the sovereignty funds or what is called the 'General Reserve'. The private sector is having its local and outside activity.

Financial flows are pouring from the tourist and other sectors. We also invest what is dubbed as 'Sovereignty Funds' or the general reserves in important regions in the world. Currently we have a delegation which went to Vietnam to explore investments domains. We are also available at other important countries. All such activities are good investments and value-added to the Omani national income. We are honestly developing our economy away from any adventures that do not serve balances of our economic work.

Your Majesty, when Cyclone 'Gonu' hit the Sultanate recently, it was said that you rejected any assistance, does this means that you do not need any favor that would be followed by harm?

That is not the right description, we did not reject assistance as critically suggested in your question. When the cyclone had come and gone, I and my people were able to identify the disaster's results. We also wanted to test our strength in the face of such a disaster, our people were subjected to such a test and I tell you that we succeeded. Such a test has waken up the people and the Omani nation whom we found stood united as one and capable of discharging its duty. Unfortunately, there are some people who figured out.

this disaster as God's punishment, such people are interpreting away from the Shariat cause.

Let us take this issue as a warning from God so that people would understand that life is not always without hardships and therefore, they should be prepared for all that is ordained on them and this is natural. We should always say, Thanks God for what he has ordained and for his kindness. Such natural disasters in other countries are common, and permanent and not exceptional. What happened to us may happen once or twice, we consider it an exception if we compared with others who are experiencing disasters annually or repeatedly. With a high level of national cooperation and sentiments we were able to face this disaster, and I was extremely delighted for the Omani people's cooperation with which we were able to overcome such a cyclone with believing hearts free from any panic, fear or chaos.

Your Majesty, are internal Omani affairs still your mere concern?

Yes, it is. I previously told you that if you wanted to be strong abroad, you have to be so internally. We wanted our country to be strong with good reputation, but this doesn't mean that we don't follow the blowing winds here or there. Such winds we could influence or be influenced by. If such winds are affecting us, you find us strong and how to deal with it and drive it back. Omani affairs are my mere concern, and you in this region we are serious and keen about the interests of the people. The Omani renaissance started from scratch as you know it, now it is figures about which we and Omani people are very proud. The Omani people had cooperated with us till everybody knew and heard about our country which is the refuge and fort of the Omani citizen and all those who are living on it or visiting it.

Your Majesty, you precisely supervised construction of the Grand Mosque which I visited and performed prayers in. Is it an artistic and spiritual masterpiece? What does it mean to you?

Countries without spirituals are empty nations and there isn't anything more important than the spiritual side in building nations. It creates coherence and consistency, tolerance, security and good conduct. Countries which had been built without spirituals had vanished. Go back to nations' ancient or contemporary history. Those who had been without creed vanished. For example let us take the Communism ideology. Hasn't it vanished? Because it derived its work and structure from materialism that put burden on man and changed him into a merciless machine.

Your Majesty, some people describe your anger as a silent anger which they understand by signal?

His Majesty the Sultan, you mediamen, sometimes you only construe the apparent things without looking at the inside. If it is, I leave to you. I and my executive apparatus are always optimistic. Who knows me, will understand my intentions via a quiet and sound explanation and amicable understanding. The Free in Arabs knows by signal, as Arabs say.

Your Majesty the Sultan, you have established a solid democracy for this country and a unique ruling system which has its privacy and rituals which everybody respects. Is it the Umayyad or the Abbasid rituals? Do you think that it is a solid and continuing ritual?

Yes, we have a deep-rooted and continued specialty and has become ancient diplomacy which is respected by all, As Allah says in the holy book "Allah does not change people's deed, unless they change what in their inner self" it's has been a democracy that is based on mutual respect, where the young respects the old one and trust is placed in God. All believe in the quiet Omani diplomacy.

Your Majesty Sultan Qaboos, have all your ambitions to build the Omani renaissance been achieved or is anything left?

As I told you, when we grow old our bodies become tired, so far, we are not tired, we have a lot of work ahead of us, we have great and more ambitions, we are not facing scarcity, but completion, we have many people who love work. The Omani people are known for the good quality of work which relieve me and make me happy. Maybe Allah wants good things for us as the march of renaissance is continuing and always gives its fruits.

Your Majesty, what is the reason for Oman not having conflicts with the countries of the region or with the world? The only conflict which I remember as a journalist was when you refused to boycott Egypt at the Arab Summit Conference in Baghdad? And also when the Arabs criticized you, you did not reply to it?

We do not have any conflicts and we do not put fuel on fire when our opinion does not agree with anyone? When we refused to boycott Egypt at that time, we had our own viewpoint, which we didn't impose on others or didn't criticize them for their thinking. We left it to time to judge our views and those of others. We don't have any row with anyone in the region or outside. We are a state of peace, as you have said when we get angry it will be silent. Time will be capable to solve problems.

Your Majesty, since your country doesn't have any animosities or grudges with any country in the region and the world, aren't you prepared to offer advice to countries which are having problems among them?

If you mean mediation, yes, we have done a lot of intermediary work and solved many conflicts, used diplomacy to solve many things silently. We knew that those whom we sought to assist and succeeded in knowing and appreciating this very well. Let history keep this to our credit when speaking about us.

Your Majesty, in 1998, you had been the Man of Peace and the UN granted you the Peace Prize, which was not publicized much. Why?

Ahmed, as you know if I hate something it is the media propagation and publicity. I want everything to assume its normal size, but I am proud about this award from a reputable international organization.

Nevertheless, we in the end reflect the nature of our peace-loving country.

Your Majesty the Sultan, are you pleased with praise that reflects the people's love and are you happy with it in the end?

Believe me, I don't like to be praised, whoever God loves is pleased with his own manner. For me, the real praise is that when we see ourselves working and that our work results are useful and people feel them. This is the kind of praise which I like. I don't have time to listen to how we could work better, how we could benefit the people and this country. As you say, if there is a silent anger there is a silent love.

Your Majesty, the Omani Constitutional Institutions on which you have bet which some people view as better than imported democracies. Are they the best political systems or do you view others as better?

The best political systems are derived from the nation's privacy, heritage, culture and their social and political legacy. Prevailing democracies in many countries have been so for 800 years and dominated by arguments. Sometimes, conflicts in their societies reach the level of fighting, debates. Of course, I don't blame all, but I feel a political system that emanates from the nation's heritage, legacy and privacy is useful. Laws are promulgated to make people happy and not miserable. Laws are important for civilized countries, which should be from the society's environment and easy and merciful laws that serve the people, not laws that paralyze their movement, putting them beyond critical situations, which prevent the official from practicing his human views after being restricted by solid laws which are not good for his nation. We have created a system for our constitutional institutions which benefits the people and meets their privacy, heritage and culture.

Your Majesty, peoples in the region, the Middle East people or probably the Eastern Asian people tend to have a Monarch or Sultani Rule. These peoples felt insulted through all revolutions which the region experienced. Do you think the revolution concept has failed, or is insignificant and will not be repeated?

These nations had become used to a sort of rule even in their faith. We noticed that any people anywhere, when losing legitimacy, which governs them, will need years to regain the world's trust. As this new legitimacy needs time to regain international confidence. I don't think the world will not witness a resemblance of the past decades when the cold war was at its peak between the two superpowers. The situation is different now. Awareness has dominated many nations, and people are looking forward to persons to provide them with stability, prosperity security and peace.

Your Majesty, do you think that the region is going to witness wars or live in peace?

As I told you, Oman, is a peace-loving country. We build our relations on joint interest with all peoples without prejudice. This is what has placed Oman's diplomacy on a tranquil and right path. We don't have any animosity with any country in the region. We know that some of them have interests and want us to respect them. We believe that we also have interests which others should respect. If so, all differences will vanish. All that I want is that war does not erupt in this region which is considered the nerve of world economy and attracts the attention of decision-makers circles by having the largest oil reserves in the world. The nations in the region only wants peace.

We want to keep our region away from the catastrophes of wars. We want it to follow the path of development and to enjoy their financial surpluses and that it enjoys prosperity, stability and development. All that will be achieved via easy equation, which is to respect the interests of others. As we request them to respect our interests.

Hence, nations will only enjoy peace.

As we request them to respect our interests. Hence, nations will only enjoy peace.

Your Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, finally, yourself has a right to give, what is it?

My satisfaction not be away from work, happy person whose hobby is his occupation. As I told you before, my post is rather a responsibility than a privilege. We are a people with a mission, which we loved. I find my pleasure and comfort in Oman's renaissance. When I feel bored with the daily routine, if it happens, my pleasure and comfort in field movements where I tour regions and mix up with people. I live their lives, listen to their complaints and look forward to our country's renaissance and speedy achievements in it.

This I consider as major holiday and relax for myself, besides I don't complain of any need thanks to Allah. This country and its people provided the leader with all that makes him comfortable to complete his mission.

Finally, Ahmed, let me ask you about brothers in Kuwait, how are you doing? I told His Majesty the Sultan you visit us and you know our conditions. His Majesty the Sultan smiled and said my greetings to your friendly and dear Emir and to the people of Kuwait who love us and we love him.

The interview which lasted for more than two hours was over. As a journalist, I confess that I was before a man who puts his experience before me. Who speaks on the peoples rule philosophy, how we can be, and who adds to it results of this vision which are felt by everyone who visits the Sultanate.