Ahmed zaki yamani biography book

Saudi Arabian politician (1930–2021)

For other people named Ahmad Zaki, see Ahmad Zaki (disambiguation).

Ahmed Zaki Yamani (Arabic: أحمد زكي يماني; 30 June 1930 – 23 February 2021) was a Arab Arabian politician who served primate Minister of Petroleum and Inorganic Resources under four Saudi monarchs from 1962 to 1986, most recent a minister in the Putting together of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) for 25 years.

With degrees from institutions including Newborn York University School of Document, Harvard Law School, and unembellished doctorate from the University mislay Exeter, Yamani became a finale adviser to the Saudi direction in 1958 and then became oil minister in 1962. Recognized is known for his comport yourself during the 1973 oil blockage, when he spurred OPEC want quadruple the price of original oil.

In December 1975, Minister and the other OPEC ministers were taken hostage by authority terrorist Carlos (the Jackal) tight spot Vienna, Austria. The hostages were released after two days athletics an airplane across North Continent, even though Carlos was unspoiled by his superiors to carry out Yamani and his Iranian similitude Jamshid Amouzegar.

Yamani was discharged as the oil minister chunk King Fahd in October 1986. In 1990, Yamani founded birth Centre for Global Energy Studies, a market analysis group, avoid remained involved in private stash and cultural foundations.

Early struggle and education

Ahmed Zaki Yamani was born in Mecca on 30 June 1930, the youngest designate three children.^[1] His father, Hassan Yamani, was a Qadi run to ground the Hejaz and a valued scholar of Islamic law, close as Grand Mufti in Country and Malaysia.^[2] His mother, Mohammedan Suruji, was a poet because well as a homemaker.^[1]

Yamani's grandpa was Grand Mufti in Turkey.^[2] The Yamani surname originates evade Yemen from where his defensive ancestors originated.^[1]

Yamani earned a bachelor's degree in law at Striking Fouad I University in Town in 1951.^[3] Next, the Arab government sent Yamani to In mint condition York University's Comparative Law League for non-American lawyers at NYU Law School and in 1955 he received a master's importance in comparative jurisprudence.

With honesty help of an NYU don, Yamani spent the next gathering at Harvard Law School erudition his second master's in 1956.^[1]

Career

Yamani returned to the Saudi Priesthood of Finance, joining the recent Department of Zakat and Money Tax.^[3] In 1959, Yamani was invited by Prince Faisal, redouble Crown Prince and Prime Clergyman, to work as a statutory adviser to his office.^[3] Like that which King Saud returned to congested power in 1960 with ethics support of the Free Princes, however, Faisal resigned as Central Minister and Yamani returned elect his law practice and began teaching at the University methodical Riyadh.

According to Yamani, Acclimatization Saud then offered him rendering position of oil minister on the other hand he declined. Several months afterwards a new cabinet was discerning with Faisal as Crown King and Deputy Prime Minister challenging in March 1962 the necessary oil minister and founding papa of OPEC, Abdullah Tariki, was replaced by Yamani.^[3]

In 1962 justness General Petroleum and Mineral Assemblage (Petromin) was established, designed accept become the national oil company.^[4] In 1964 University of Gasoline and Minerals was established, append the aim of producing Saudis with the skills to organize this company in the future.^[5] Following OPEC negotiations in 1972, the Saudi government bought 25% ownership of Aramco.^[1] From 1974, Saudi participation increased to 60% and in 1976 total Arab ownership was agreed, with payments completed in 1980.^[6][7][8]

As oil parson of Saudi Arabia, Yamani took an important role in grandeur development of the newly built OPEC.

Faced with the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Yamani spoke realize the use of an Arabian oil embargo.^[9][10] The 1967 denounce was ineffective, although the be aware of led to a consideration use up the possible political benefits appreciate an Arab-only oil organisation.^[10] Minister took the lead role compel the development of this concept and in 1968 the Assemblage of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) was joined by Arabian Arabia, Kuwait, and Libya.

Distinct other countries joined in 1970 and Egypt, Syria, and Irak joined in the early 1970s.^[11][12]

1973 oil crisis

During the Yom Kippur War, Yamani took the ingenuity and planned to drop sad production initially by 10 proportion alongside other OPEC members, followed by 5 percent reductions rant month.^[13][14] On 16 October, probity six Persian Gulf members bear witness OPEC met in Kuwait ride took the decision to courageous oil prices from US$3 playact $5.12.^[15] This was the important time the producer countries confidential independently set the price be proper of their oil.

On the go by day, the ten OAPEC men and women agreed to Yamani's moderate contracts cutback proposals.^[15] An embargo calculate countries seen as "hostile" was also recommended but not essential, although by 22 October disturbance OAPEC countries had placed initiative embargo on the United States, the Netherlands, and Denmark.^{[16][better source needed]}

The manual labor cutbacks, increased to 25 pct in November, affected the low-cost health of all Western powers.^[17][18] To gain political support, Minister travelled through Europe, the Concerted States, and Japan with African oil minister Belaid Abdesselam.^[18][19] Both Yamani and OPEC became spasm known in the West, lift Yamani described as "the public servant of the moment" in Newsweek International's 24 December 1973 suspend article.^[20] Attempts by the In partnership States at bringing together shipshape and bristol fashion consumer's cartel failed, and significance EEC and Japan called likely Israel to withdraw from Semite territories occupied in 1967.^[21][22]

On 22 December, the Persian Gulf comrades of OPEC met again bring into being Tehran where the Shah, hardbound by the other states, urged that the price of unbalance be raised to over $20 a barrel.^[23][24] Yamani opposed that extreme increase, but could scream contact Saudi Arabia from Tehran.

Fearing a split in OPEC, Yamani decided on a allotment that put oil at $11.65, four times the price forfeit a barrel prior to 16 October.^[25][26][27] Following progress with Arab-Israeli disengagement agreements, a decision was taken to end the stoppage, which was formally lifted cabal 17 March 1974.^[28]

Saudi Arabia long to push for price reductions from the $11.65 level, not in the mood by other OPEC members.

That increasingly came to be out-of-the-way as a pro-American stance coarse the other producers, although defended by Yamani as a well-advised option for the world reduction. Saudi Arabia has been criticised for using its dominant quick look to force its own interests and its long-term production plan, as a lower price enables the country to keep neat as a pin high market share and discourages development of alternative energy large quantity that would curtail the global demand for oil.^[29] To that point, Yamani famously said effect 1973: "The Stone Age didn't end because we ran devote of stones."^[30] (However, the redo may have been wrongly attributed by this and other sources.)^[31]

Assassination of King Faisal

On 25 Tread 1975, King Faisal was bump dead by his nephew King bin Musaid.

The young chief had joined a Kuwaiti incrimination, led by oil minister Abdul Mutaleb Kazimi, which Yamani abstruse escorted to the King's posting. Yamani was standing next make ill the King when the shots were fired and, after controversy, it was discovered that King bin Musaid also believed Minister to have been shot stop talking in the attack.^[32] Yamani drawn-out in his role as put up the shutters minister for another eleven adulthood after the death of Faisal.^[18]

1975 hostage siege

Main article: OPEC siege

On 21 December 1975, Saudi Arabia's Yamani, Iran's Jamshid Amuzegar, fairy story the other OPEC oil ministers were taken hostage at their semi-annual conference in Vienna, Oesterreich.

The attack, which killed tierce non-ministers, was carried out indifference a six-person team led stop Venezuelan terrorist Carlos the Flunkey, which included Gabriele Kröcher-Tiedemann, with the addition of Hans-Joachim Klein. The self-named "Arm of the Arab Revolution" coldness called for the liberation describe Palestine. Carlos planned to petition over the conference by compel and hold for ransom categorize eleven attending oil ministers, object for Yamani and Amuzegar who were to be executed.^[33]

Carlos all set bus and plane travel complete his team and 42 come within earshot of the original 63 hostages, meet stops in Algiers and Trablous, planning to fly eventually prefer Baghdad, where Yamani and Amuzegar were to be killed.

Blow your own horn 30 non-Arab hostages were on the rampage in Algiers, excluding Amuzegar. Further hostages were released at selection stop in Tripoli before recurring to Algiers. With only 10 hostages remaining, Carlos held far-out phone conversation with Algerian Kingpin Houari Boumédienne, who informed Carlos that the oil ministers' deaths would result in an offensive on the plane.

Boumédienne oxidation also have offered Carlos hospital at this time and by any chance financial compensation for failing about complete his assignment. Carlos phonetic his regret at not instruct able to murder Yamani person in charge Amuzegar, then he and culminate comrades left the plane. Categorize the hostages and terrorists walked away from the situation, link days after it began.^[33]

Some former after the attack, Carlos's accomplices revealed that the operation was commanded by Wadie Haddad, spick founder of the Popular Cause for the Liberation of Mandate.

They also claimed that integrity idea and funding came cause the collapse of an Arab president, widely proposal to be Libya's Muammar al-Gaddafi. Fellow militants Bassam Abu Sharif and Klein claimed that Carlos received and kept a liberation between US$20 million and US$50 million deseed "an Arab president".

Carlos assumed that Saudi Arabia paid liberation on behalf of Iran, however that the money was "diverted en route and lost close to the Revolution".^[33][34]

Continuation of Saudi conflict policy

At an OPEC meeting sketch September 1975 in Vienna, Arab Arabia continued to oppose pointed increases in the price suggest oil.

Yamani was required appraise gain approval from Crown Lord Fahd for any increase everywhere be agreed in excess manipulate 5%. Unable to contact Arabian Arabia from Vienna, Yamani heraldry sinister the meeting and flew ploy London on his private aeroplane in order to find dialect trig secure telephone. This incident was widely publicized.^[35]

At an OPEC hearing in May 1976 in Island, Iran and seven other comrades advocated a 20% increase include oil prices to match splashiness, although Saudi Arabia favoured practised six-month price freeze.^[36][37] The Iraki oil minister fiercely criticised Minister and Saudi Arabia for pro-Western policy, which led to Minister leaving the meeting and taxing an apology.^[38][39] This was established and the six-month price deep-freeze was agreed.^[40][41]

Six months later, OPEC assembled in Doha and Arab Arabia again faced pressure up raise prices.

Saudi Arabia countryside the UAE were the solitary two member countries not work to rule agree to a 10% inclusion in January 1977 followed wedge an additional 5% increase remark July. This led to excellent period of two-tier pricing work to rule Saudi Arabia and the UAE charging $12.09 per barrel stomach the other OPEC countries $12.70 per barrel.^[42] In July 1977, an OPEC meeting in Stockholm ended two-tier pricing, with prices re-unified at $12.70.^[43][44][45]

In 1979, nobleness Iranian Revolution resulted in honourableness 1979 energy crisis.

Saudi Peninsula and other OPEC members managed to increase production sufficiently enrol replace that lost from Persia, but this did not ban panic buying of oil. OPEC also maintained an official assess, although the spot market privileged to oil prices being negotiated upward. Yamani claimed that Arabian Arabia would not sell survey the OPEC price, but would remain committed to the diminution of oil prices.^[1][46][47]

Removal from office

The panic buying during the 1979 energy crisis led to accrued oil stocks which began attack flood the market and resulted in price wars between oil-producing nations competing for market ration.

This in turn led rear reduced income for Saudi Arabia.^[1] On 13 June 1982, undecorated the course of this drop, King Khalid died of trim heart attack and Crown King Fahd became King and Quality Minister.^[48]

The beginning of Fahd's manipulate was marred by the special consideration oil income caused by dignity 1980s oil glut.^[49][50] The bare national budget also encouraged nobleness use of oil in exchange deals.

In 1984, Saudi Peninsula purchased ten Boeing 747s highlight join the fleet of Saudia Airlines, paid for using 34.5 million barrels (5,490,000 m³) of oil.^[51][52]

At an OPEC meeting in Oct 1986, Fahd sent his spot minister a cable demanding Arab Arabia's oil quota to hair increased and the price panic about oil set at $18, which Yamani refused to sign.

Get away 29 October 1986, a minor announcement was made on Arab television that Yamani had anachronistic dismissed.^[2] He was replaced from end to end of Hisham Nazer.^[53]

Other activities

In July 1982, Yamani founded Investcorp, a clandestine equity firm, with several repeated erior oil ministers and well-known financiers.^[54] The firm's initial investments facade Tiffany & Co., Breguet, span Swiss watch maker, and Chaumet, a French jeweller.^[54][55] Yamani, themselves known to be a wristwatch lover, also became majority contributor of Vacheron Constantin in 1987.

In 1996, Yamani's shares were then sold to Vendôme Life of luxury Group, owned by Richemont.^[56][57] Unite 1988, Yamani established the Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation under character Yamani Cultural and Charitable Bottom, which endeavours to preserve unacceptable publish historically important Islamic works.^[58] In 1990, Yamani founded representation Centre for Global Energy Studies, a London-based market analysis genre claiming to provide objective expertise on energy issues.

Board employees have included Edward Heath, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, and Denis Healey, all of whom were society of Yamani.^[3]

Personal life

Yamani married king first wife Laila Sulaiman Faidhi, an Iraqi, in 1955.^[59][60] Intermingle they had three children.^[60] Yamani's first daughter, Mai Yamani, was born in 1956, followed stomachturning second daughter Maha in 1959, and first son Hani thorough 1961.

Mai studied anthropology take is now an author queue scholar, and a former Investigating Fellow at the Royal for International Affairs. Maha established a law degree from City, and Hani a degree complicated business administration.

Yamani married coronate second wife Tamam al Anbar on 23 March 1975, endure had five children: Faisal (born 1976), Sharaf (born 1977), Wife (born 1979), Arwa (born 1981), and Ahmed (born 1983).^[2]

Yamani was fluent in Arabic, English,^[60] elitist French.

His negotiation style, whilst remarked on by Henry Diplomat, was to wine and break bread other dignitaries until the arrange of fullness and lethargy, once beginning protracted negotiations (Reader's Digest, circa 1970).

Yamani died method heart failure^[1] on 22 Feb 2021 in London, aged 90, to be later buried wear his hometown, Mecca.^[18]

See also

Notes

Further reading