Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques discusses with Egyptian, Yemeni, Turkish presidents region issues

GCC defense ministers study ways of developing "Peninsula Shield" proposal by king Abdullah bin Abdulaziz

Region's issues, bilateral ties core of discussions between Sultan Qaboos, UAE president

MWL continues preparations for International Islamic Conference for Dialogue

UAE resorts to The Hague to settle three islands case issue

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received a message from President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.

The message was delivered to the King by Egypt's Minister of Commerce and Industry Eng. Rasheed Mohammed Rasheed during an audience at the monarch's palace in Riyadh.

The Minister also conveyed to the King the greetings and appreciation of President Mubarak. In turn, the King sent his greetings and appreciation to the president.

The audience was attended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet and Chief of the Court of the Cabinet's Presidency; Abdullah bin Ahmed Zenel, Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Egypt's ambassador to the Kingdom Mohammed Abdulhameed Qasem.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received a telephone call from President Abdullah Gul of Turkey.

During the conversation, they discussed the overall current Islamic and International issues and the situations in the Middle East and reviewed the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received at his palace in Riyadh the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Atiyyah.

During the meeting, Al-Atiyyah briefed the King on the outcome of the views document he had presented to the leaders of the GCC during the 2002 summit, noting that all the economic, social and educational points raised in the documents have already been accomplished.

Al-Atiyyah also listened to the instructions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques regarding a number of matters relating to the GCC work and the forthcoming consultative summit scheduled for Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

The audience was attended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet and Chief of the Court of the Cabinet's Presidency.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received a telephone call from President Ali Abdullah Salih of Yemen.

During the conversation, they reviewed the bilateral relations between the two countries and discussed the international and Arab situations and current developments in the Middle East.

Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh region received in the Saudi capital Egyptian minister of Foreign Trade and Industry Eng. Rasheed Mohammed Rasheed and Minister of Manpower & Immigration Aisha Abdel Hadi.

During the meeting, they discussed a number of issues as regards investment and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Under the chairmanship of Saudi Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdullah bin Ahmed Zainel Ali Reza and Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Rasheed Mohamed Rasheed, the Saudi-Egyptian Joint Committee started in Riyadh its 12th session of meetings.

The meetings were attended by members of the Committee and a number of Egyptian and Saudi businessmen.

The Saudi Minister welcomed the Egyptian Minister and the accompanying delegation, wishing the meetings all success. He also pointed out that these meetings aim to strengthen ties of cooperation in addition to activating joint action mechanisms between the two friendly countries.

On his part, the Egyptian Minister said that holding these meetings reflects the care given by the leadership of the two countries to develop mutual economic relations.

The committee approved a number of recommendations and proposals to boost Saudi-Egyptian relations and cooperation in various fields such as transport, electric power, trade, industry, education, Islamic affairs and culture.

The two-day extraordinary consultative meeting of the Joint Defense Council, an affiliate of the Gulf Cooperation Council, started in Doha.

In a key address, Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud welcomed the ministers of defense of the GCC member countries or their deputies attending the meeting, conveying to them the greetings of the Emir of Qatar and wishing them a good stay.

Prince Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, led the delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the meeting.

On his part, GCC Secretary General Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Atiyyah said the meeting aims at conducting further consultations, coordination and exchange of view points on the accelerating developments in the region.

The Extraordinary Consultative Meeting of the Joint Defense Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministers of Defense concluded.

The Kingdom's delegation participating in the meeting was led by Prince Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General. The meeting came at the direction of GCC leaders to discuss ways of developing the Peninsula Shield.

The meeting discussed the proposal of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to develop and upgrade the Peninsula Shield Forces.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the Qatari Emir, received in Doha Prince Abdul-Rahman bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General. They reviewed issues of mutual interest.

The meeting was attended by Qatari energy minister Abdullah al-Atiyyah and a number of senior officials.

Qatari Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has received Prince Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector Genera; and GCC Defense Ministers. Sheikh Tamim wished them a pleasant stay in Qatar.

During the meeting, they exchanged cordial talks and discussed a number of issues of common interest. The meeting was attended by a number of military officials.

Qatar and Bahrain have expressed their keen desire to develop and enhance the bilateral relations to serve the common interest of the two countries and their people.

The two countries praised the historic ties and the close distinguished bilateral relations in the light of their common destiny and joint objectives and interests.

This came in a statement issued at the conclusion of the eighth session of the Qatari-Bahraini Higher Joint Co-operation Committee, held in Manama under the co-chairmanship of HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Bahraini Regent and Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifah with a number of ministers and ranking officials from the two countries attending.

During the session the two sides reviewed developments in the region as well as regional and international matters of mutual concern, the statement said.

It added that the session was guided by the high directives of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and his brother King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifah calling for the development of the distinguished fraternal relations between the two countries to achieve the common interests of their people.

In this context the two sides signed minutes of the committee’s session which included bilateral co-operation between bodies concerned in the two countries in a number of vital areas, including politics, security, finance, industry, labor, social development, energy, information, tourism, education, urban planning, fish wealth besides co-operation between the private sector represented by the chambers of commerce and industry in both countries, the statement said.

The design-build contract for the causeway between Qatar and Bahrain was signed between Qatar-Bahrain Causeway Foundation and Vinci Construction Grands Projects, leader of the consortium of construction companies of the causeway, which will contribute to the attainment of aspirations and expectations of the two countries and their people in trade and economic co-operation, the statement added.

The committee, meanwhile, welcomed the exchange of ratification instruments of the security co-operation agreement signed between the two countries and its entry into effect.

It also welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries in the tourism sector.

In the field of economic, trade and investment co-operation between the two countries, the committee welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of the Qatari-Bahraini al-Takaful Insurance Company between the private sectors in the two countries.

The Higher Committee expressed thanks and appreciation to HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifah for the great support for the committee’s efforts and their keenness on the success of its works.

Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim and his delegation’s visit was in response to an invitation by Bahraini Regent and Crown Prince Sheikh Salman.

During the visit, Sheikh Tamim met Bahraini Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifah bin Salman al-Khalifah and conveyed the greetings of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. At the meeting they reviewed the bilateral ties.

The two sides agreed to convene the 9th session of the higher joint co-operation committee in Doha in the first half of 2009. The date for the session will be set later.

HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim returned home after concluding his visit to Bahrain.

In Abu Dhabi, HM Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed of Oman arrived on a fraternal visit, which comes at an invitation form President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Upon his arrival, the Omani Head of State and his accompanying delegation were received by President Sheikh Khalifa, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Sheikh Khalifa gave Sultan Qaboos a welcome embrace as the guard of honor saluted the state guest. The President then shook hands with the members of the delegation accompanying the Sultan.

Accompanied by Sheikh Khalifa, Sultan Qaboos shook hands with Sheikhs and state officials who were present at the airport to receive him. They included Dubai crown prince HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, deputy ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, deputy prime minister HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, rulers representative in the eastern region HH Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, national security adviser HH Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, interior minister Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, other Sheikhs and senior officials, and Omani ambassador to UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Ali Al Qatbi.

His Majesty the Sultan was seen off at the Royal Airport by their highnesses, their Excellencies the ministers, commanders of the Sultan’s Armed Forces, Royal Oman Police (ROP) and the Charge D’Affaires of the UAE Embassy in the Sultanate.

His Majesty the Sultan is accompanied during the visit by a delegation comprising: Sayyid Ali bin Hamoud bin Ali al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, Gen. Ali bin Majid al Ma’amari, Royal Office Minister, Maj. Gen. Sultan bin Mohammed al Namani, Secretary-General of the Royal Court Affairs, Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Ahmed bin Abdul Nabi Macki, National Economy Minister and Supervisor of the Finance Ministry, Dr. Ali bin Mohammed bin Moosa, Health Minister, Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Commerce and Industry Minister and Dr. Khamis bin Mubarak al Alawi, Transport and Communications Minister.

The visit comes as part of the regular and continued consultations between the leaders of UAE and Oman. The two heads of states will explore ways for deepening the existing fraternal relations between the two countries. The visit is also part of the efforts to widen the horizons of bilateral relations between UAE and Oman and effectively coordinate the works in various fields of mutual interest.

Two countries having a shared heritage and a single history, UAE and Oman remain exemplary models for brotherly relations between the countries in the region.

“Egypt agrees that this question ... should be subject to judicial measures, even at the level of the UN Security Council,” said Abdulaziz Al Ghurair, speaker of the UAE Federal National Council in Cairo.

“The UAE must ask Iran (to accept) a recourse to the International Court of Justice,” he told reporters after a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abdul-Gheit.

Despite their differences over the islands, the two states have close ties, with Iran being the UAE’s top trading partner. Iranians also form a sizable Diaspora community in Dubai.

Since the fall of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003, Shia-majority Iran has enjoyed warm ties with its western neighbor, which fought a bloody war with Iran from 1980 to 1988.

However, the Iraqi government announced earlier that it will form a panel of security ministries to investigate and document any Iranian intervention in Iraqi affairs, amid mounting US claims of meddling by Teheran.

Iran vehemently rejects allegations of interference in Iraq, saying the best way to restore stability to the country would be the immediate exit of US and other foreign troops.

Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Secretariat General of the Muslim World League (MWL) will hold the International Islamic Conference for Dialogue during the period 17-19/06/1429H. at MWL headquarters in Makkah.

MWL Secretary General Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulmohsen Al-Turki said that MWL invited a large number of Ulema, Islamic scholars, officials of Islamic centers and associations and university professors to participate in the conference.

Al-Turki praised the care given by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to entrench ethics and human values as well as the Monarch's care for human and family affairs. Al-Turki thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince for their attention and care for Muslim affairs.

Gulf countries have again been warned that a nuclear accident in any one state could render the entire region uninhabitable. It would also hit global oil supplies because the extraction of hydrocarbon fuels would be impossible, the concluding session of the International Conference on Nuclear Technologies in the Service of Arab Society heard.

"The states of the region are thus asked to be extra cautious and ensure they are not negligent in case they go for the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes," said Gulf Council for Foreign Relations president Dr Mansoor Al Arayedh.

He was quoting from conclusions and final recommendations agreed by participants of the event, which was organized by the council.

The two-day conference was held under the patronage of the Oil and Gas Minister and National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga) chairman Dr Abdulhussain Mirza at the Crown Plaza's Bahrain Conference Centre.

"Though by introducing nuclear technology, states in the region could benefit a lot and carbon emissions could be drastically reduced, negligence by one state would imperil the most profitable of natural resources available to the peoples of the region," added Dr Al Arayedh.

"We cannot allow this to happen."

He said the most important discussions were on the future of the region in general and Arab society in particular.

"Conference participants also spoke about the alleged risks posed by Iranian nuclear facilities to people in neighboring Arab states and the extent to which Iran had acted in consultation with its neighbors regarding these risks," he said.

"The participants were largely satisfied with the Iranians' explanations and assertions."

He said participants acknowledged that countries in the region should reap the benefits of nuclear technology, but avoid human and environmental catastrophes.

"We are all bound by a myriad of human relationships, a grand shared waterway, its bountiful sea life and the ancient currents of wind and waves," he said.

"Consequently, the construction and operation of a nuclear facility in any individual state in the region is associated with the potential risk of damage to the human population and natural environment of the entire region."

He said given the consequences that could result from even small leaks or emissions of radioactivity and/or hazardous waste from a nuclear facility, each country had a moral, ethical and religious duty to limit nuclear projects and operations to those that are essential in offsetting other energy sources; for medical use; for water desalination and specific industrial processes; and for training.

He said the conference also called for further study of proposals to establish an agency for the supervision and regulation of civilian nuclear facilities in the region.

"They have also called for a convention of states of the region in order to agree such a regime and inviting guidance and drawing on the experience available," he said. Dr Al Arayedh added participants expressed the need for states not to undertake nuclear operations that are unnecessary for basic civilian purposes. "Significantly, the participants also agreed to ask the public authorities to undertake a feasibility study for the design and construction of a small nuclear reactor." This reactor should satisfy the specific need for training personnel, which would lead to development of nuclear regulation and inspection and in accounting and auditing nuclear fuel usage, in medical applications, in materials' science and for testing advanced methods for water desalination," he said. He revealed such a "mini reactor" could be set up in Bahrain.