The following is the transcription of Press TV's interview with the editor of the Middle East Magazine, Pat Lancaster, regarding the latest developments in Mideast states.
Press TV: Let's start with Saudi Arabia. Were Friday's protests a success or failure?
Lancaster: I think it's rather early to judge. We'll have to see what the effects are on the Saudi Arabian authorities but this was somewhat expected. They were speaking about this earlier in the wake and Friday was always going to be the day when it was scheduled to take place. People in Saudi Arabia as across the region have genuine grievances. They are asking for their voices to be heard. So I think the way Saudi authorities have dealt with it so far is completely inappropriate. It's simply in this age we are in the 21st century. It is impossible to tell people that they have no voice, they can't speak. It just won't be tolerated. Nor should it be.
Press TV: How much are external games are at play right now. We're looking for example at Saudi Arabia and Libya?
Lancaster: I really do believe that this is internal. I know there are influences externally of course. I do believe what we are seeing is a totally unprecedented show of power of the people in the Middle East. A lot of people would say it's long overdue. But people are coming out on the streets, demanding that these old leaders go. They want new, they want reform, and they want new regimes. They want to be part of all the things they know that are going on in more free societies. I'm not saying that these western societies are perfect but with the technology that we have, with Facebook, the Internet and Twitter, it's easy for all the information to go around and these people quite rightly don't want to be under the cosh of these aging despots any longer.
Press TV: If we move on to Bahrain meanwhile, their soldiers are firing on protesters, yet Washington has praised the way the monarchy has handled the crisis. Persian Gulf states have pledged aid for Bahrain and Oman (some 20 billion dollars) over the next decade. So why are we seeing this difference in the way there's a response whether it is regionally or internationally?
Lancaster: I think the first point to make is that the situation in Bahrain and then Oman are completely different. I happened to be in Oman when there was certain dissent and there were demonstrations in Soha. I was in Muscat at the time. I have to say that it was dealt with quite well. The sultan of Oman who himself has been in power for maybe 41 years met with a group of demonstrators, listened to their requests, immediately began the process of reform and they had further requests that they put to him, mainly to do with people in power, who they felt had too much of an influence from the way things were going in Oman. And those people were removed from government. That's completely different from what we have seen in Bahrain. I mean this heavy-handedness is something that I believe will be condemned.
Press TV: Many are skeptical, especially in the region, as I speak to many people from ordinary citizens to the experts and analysts on a daily basis. They're saying as soon as we see people negotiating with France, with Washington and different Western government, before anything even happened, we know there's something going on. Is there anything to that or that's just the level of skepticism that actually exists now between the people in the Arab streets and Western politics?
Lancaster: I do think that this whole movement started with the young man in Tunisia, The vegetable seller who was insulted by the member of the police force. I think it spiraled through Tunisia into Egypt and I think it's going to take to every area of the Middle East before it's finished. I'm not saying there would be demonstrations but I think it would take to every country.
Obviously there will always be people and they will be stepping into backing to the left or use things to further their own cause. And I think of course this is happening. There's no question about. But I do believe that it would be to denigrate this great tidal wave of humanity who is asking for reform. To say that America's behind it, Europe's behind it or Russia's behind it. This is been a movement of the people. People are stepping in to take advantage. There's absolutely no question about that but we must remember that reform is what these people are asking for and let's hope they won't exploit it.
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