Saudi King, Quartet Committee envoy discuss peace efforts, Palestinian cause developments

Chair of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz for Environment, Wildlife inaugurated

Prince Naif highlights importance of national unity

UNESCO lauds assistance of Saudi Committee for Palestinians

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received at the Royal Court at Al-Yamamah Palace princes, ministers, senior officials and a group of citizens who came to greet him. The King also received the sons of Sheikh Abdullah bin Milbis bin Jibreen, who expressed their gratitude to and appreciation of the Monarch for his condolences on the death of their father.

The King prayed to Almighty Allah to bless the soul of the deceased sheikh.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received at his palace in Riyadh the Special Envoy of Quartet Committee for Middle East Tony Blair and his accompanying delegation. During the audience, they discussed developments of the Palestinian issue and the international efforts being exerted to achieve just and comprehensive peace in the region.

The audience was attended by Minister of State and Cabinet's Member for Shoura Council Affairs Dr. Saud bin Saeed Al-Muthami and British Ambassador to the Kingdom William Batey.

Meanwhile, the king received at the Royal Court at Al-Yamamah Palace the credentials of ambassadors of some Islamic and friendly countries accredited to the Kingdom.

The King received credentials of Ambassadors of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Canada, Kingdom of Belgium, Republic of Mexico, Republic of Benin, People's Republic of China, Republic of Vietnam, Republic of Cuba, Republic of Maldives, Republic of Uruguay, Australia, Kingdom of Nepal, Republic of Sri Lanka, Republic of Mauritius, Republic of Georgia, Republic of Chile, Republic of Turkmenistan, Union of Myanmar, and Republic of Nigeria.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques welcomed the new Ambassadors to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, wishing them a good stay in the Kingdom.

The King also hailed friendly relations binding the kingdom with their countries, expressing his hope that they contribute to promoting the relations existing between the kingdom and their countries.

The Monarch affirmed that they will find all hospitality and cooperation from the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people and all facilities that would help them to perform their work easily. He also sent his greetings to the leaders of these countries.

On their part, the ambassadors expressed their thanks to and appreciation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for receiving them and the generous hospitality and facilities they have found since their arrival in the kingdom. They also stressed their pride and honor of working as ambassadors of their countries to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

During the audience, the Ambassador of Republic of Afghanistan delivered a speech on behalf of the ambassadors in which he expressed thanks of all to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for receiving them and their pleasure over representing their countries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, assuring their keenness to strengthen friendly relations between the kingdom and their countries.

The ambassador also hailed the Monarch's awareness of all these problems considering the Monarch's call for a conference of religions dialogue in Makkah as an evidence of his sincere desire for putting the whole world under one umbrella.

The Afghan Ambassador mentioned as well the Monarch's achievements related to the Middle East crisis, Iraq, Afghanistan, currently Lebanon and any other problem that appears in any part of the world, noting that the King is keen to contribute to solving them.

At the end of his speech, the Afghanistan’s Ambassador said that they are proud that the King represents Muslims who account for one third of the world, expressing his belief that the Monarch will succeed in that task.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed his thanks to and appreciation of all for their noble feelings, wishing them success in their work.

The audience was attended by Prince Miqren bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence and a number princes and officials.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, held at his palace a lunch party in honor of Prince Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Chairman of Allegiance-Pledge Commission.

The party was attended by a number of princes and senior officials.

The Director of King Saud University, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Othman inaugurated the Chair of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz for Environment and Wildlife.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, he inaugurated the first workshop under the theme "Wildlife between Conservation and Development".

The ceremony was attended by Secretary of National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Mohammed Al Saud.

On this occasion, the Chair's Supervisor Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulwahid A'ref, all staff of the Chair, specialists and researchers of the wildlife sciences expressed their deep thanks and gratitude to Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for his initiative to establish a chair for scientific research in the field of environment and wildlife under the umbrella of King Saud University.

They valued the support provided by the Crown Prince to finance programs and events of the Chair as well as his interest and keenness on wildlife conservation programs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Interior patronized the inaugurating ceremony of a symposium titled " Saudi Family and Contemporary Changes" organized by Saudi Scientific Society for Meeting and Social Service; and opened the Scientific Forum of Systems Sections in Saudi Arabia, organized by Higher Judiciary Institute at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University.

Upon arrival at the venue, Prince Naif was received by Chairman of Supreme Judiciary Council Sheikh Saleh bin Mohammad Allehaidan; Minister of Higher Education Dr. Khalid Al-Anqari; the University's Director Dr Sulaiman bin Abdullah Aba Al-Khail and a number of officials.

A speech ceremony was held on this occasion shedding light on Saudi family and the contemporary changes.

In an address at the ceremony, Prince Naif said: "In name of Allah Most Compassionate, Most Merciful, Thank to Allah - the Lord of the Worlds, and peace be upon Prophet and the messengers of Allah, family and companions.

It is my pleasure to meet you again in this esteemed university through the Forum of establishing cooperation between the regulatory departments in the Kingdom organized by the Higher Judiciary Institute as well as through the Forum of Saudi Family and Contemporary variables organized by the Saudi Scientific Society for Sociology and Social Service. In fact, these two Forums are important because of the significance of the objectives they tackle and treat them under auspices of the Islamic Law which is the main reference for each system and regulation in this country.

The Islamic Sharia is the method and approach which this country adopted ever since its establishment by the late King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al-Faisal Al Saud. He had made Sharia the main reference for all of the regulations, instructions issued in every aspect of life, thus the discussion of aspect of cooperation between regulation departments is based on the Islamic law. It is the system that fits for all according to will of Almighty Allah.

The Government's basic system in this country has made the family a nucleus of the Saudi society, raising its members on the principles of the Islamic faith and its related requirements of Loyalty and obedience to Allah to His Messenger (Peace be upon him) and the ruler, respect for the law, uphold patriotism and remain proud of the country's glorious history as well as preserve the Arab and Islamic indigenous values."

Human societies in general and Arab and Islamic world in particular suffered a series of global changes. These changes have been increased via the huge flow of information and a decline in performance of social, educational and organizational institutions against imported ideas with all its immorality, making stiff the challenge before the Muslim Family to maintain its culture and inherent values. It will be difficult for Muslim Family to confront such an imported culture which freely entered our houses with its sophisticated techniques and methods of temptation.

Dear brothers,

We are counting heavily on such Forums in its organizational aspects and promoting family values and renewing the role of family, standing firm against all challenges the Muslim Family face. The Family is the making of a personality of today and the community of tomorrow. It is the most important link of the social order. We are working to bridge the temptation and weaknesses that lead to deviation and loss, and we honor the family role in preserving our identity, our Arab and Islamic original values. We are also working to foster in them the values of loyalty to their religion of their country, implanting in their hearts to uphold the pride their religion and apply its teaching in various public lives.

We also hope that everyone supports the role of the family in the upbringing of generations of sound social upbringing and a strong belief based on true creed and decent mannerism.

Finally, I thank the Director of Imam Mohammad bin Saud Islamic University Dr. Sulaiman Ab-Alkhail and those responsible for these meetings and participants for their dedication.

I ask Allah Almighty to bless our meetings for the best interest of Muslim community and help us for the good of religion, worldly lives and the hereafter."

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Popular Campaign for Helping the Victims of Earthquake in Pakistan has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Pakistan's Institution of Education and Rural Development to implement the school bag project following a field survey conducted by the campaign to identify the effects of the earthquake inflicted by the education sector. The survey estimated the needs at the cost of SR 2.5 million.

Each school bag contains complete school stationery in addition to school uniforms. Accordingly, 22378 students from 128 schools in Muzaffarabad and Bagh districts received the Saudi assistance, according to campaign and recipient side officials.

Speaking on the occasion, Ahmed Mahmoud Sabbah, Head of Pakistan's Institution of Education and Rural Development, extended his sincere thanks to and appreciation of the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, represented by the Saudi Popular Campaign for Helping the Victims of Earthquake in Pakistan upon directives of Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Interior Minister, who is also General Supervisor of the campaign.

Sabbah also stressed that this aid will enable students to have proper education and increase the bonds of amicability between them and their brothers in Saudi Arabia.

Akio Arata, Chief of UNESCO Section for Bilateral Government Funding Sources has expressed appreciation for the Saudi Committee to Assist the Palestinian People for its continuous efforts to support education process in Palestine.

In a letter to the Committee, Arata commended the grant of the latest 129 scholarships presented to Palestinian students to study abroad with an amount of SR 3,658,125.

The Committee, however, supported the Palestinian Education process with SR134 Million through official Palestinian education bodies in coordination with UNESCO.

The Committee has supported as many as 11 Palestinian universities in West Bank and Gaza Strip with an amount of SR16, 500,000. The Committee also paid for tuitions of Palestinian male and female students with a total amount of SR 84,809,236 to make them proceed ahead with higher education in the current difficult economic situations.

The Committee supported 17 Community colleges in Gaza and the West Bank with an amount of SR12, 672,924 to assist those colleges to accomplish their mission and laid its national strategic plans for technical education and vocational training.

The Committee also supported post graduate students with SR9,371,655 to face the acute shortage of post graduation majors as the case of Medical, engineering and technical sciences.

The Committee provided school bags for young male and female students which cost SR2, 260,000. Nevertheless, the Committee also supported the establishment of Computer Center for the development of the community with an amount of SR 5,023,548.

In Riyadh, Prince Khalid bin Sultan, Assistance Minister of Defense and Aviation for Military Affairs received at his office, Hakan Jevrell, Swedish State Secretary for Defense and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, they discussed a number of issues of mutual interest.

The meeting was attended by Swedish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Jan Thesleff.

In London, Chief of the Iraqi Accordance Front Adnan al-Dulaimi said that “some Iraqi politicians in the Iraqi parliament and outside it are trying to accuse some Arab countries of supporting terrorism and hosting terrorists and make Saudi Arabia the top of the list of these countries.” This, according to al-Dulaimi, harms Iraq’s relations with the kingdom, which is keen on Iraq’s interests as well as the interests of all Arab and Islamic countries.

This came in a message, in which he asserted that Saudi Arabia is one of the first countries hit by terrorism and dedicated itself to fight terrorists and launched an awareness campaign to highlight the danger of terrorism.

He stressed that Iraqi and U.S. authorities did not refer to weapons entered the country from Saudi Arabia.

The IAF chief underlined that the kingdom did its utmost to control borders with Iraq and thought to build a barrier to prevent infiltrators.