Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz opens 'Al-Faisal, Witness and Martyr' Expo in National Museum

Governor of Riyadh: King Faisal is great figure that needs more research, interest

Prince Khalid Al-Faisal delivers keynote speech in Expo opening ceremony

Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, patronized the opening ceremony for the Scientific Symposium on King Faisal Biography, organized by King Abdulaziz Center for Archives and Studies.

At the venue, Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz was received by Prince Mohammed Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz; Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Makkah Region; Prince Saud Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Foreign Minister; Prince Bandar Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz; Prince Turki Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz; Prince Mohammed Abdullah Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, and a number of princes who are grandsons of late King Faisal bin Abdulaziz.

A speech ceremony was held, with several speakers highlighting the personal history and life and great deeds of late King Faisal.

Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, the Governor of Makkah Region, and Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Riyadh Region, respectively addressed the reception, highlighting some parts of the rich history of late King Faisal.

Then Prince Salman opened the documentary exhibition of King Abdulaziz Center for Archives and Studies held on the fringes of the symposium. A number of princes also attended the occasion.

Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Supervisor General of the Exhibition on 'Al-Faisal, Witness and Martyr', said the Expo will open wide its doors for researchers and historians to know much about King Faisal's noble causes and devoted efforts throughout his life span.

In a press statement, he said the exhibition targets several categories of the Saudi society notably those who were not contemporaneous to the era of King Faisal and his stands towards the important causes including the Palestinian cause.

Prince Turki noted that the Expo includes a lot of authenticated information on the trips of King Faisal and his stands vis-à-vis the national, regional and international problems.

It also sheds light on the life of King Faisal ever since his childhood, his growing up and ruling years, he said.

Prince Turki disclosed that a series of seminars on King Faisal will be organized on the fringe of this exhibition.

He noted that the Expo will be shifted to other regions of the Kingdom as well as abroad.

It will be staged in cities like Abha, Jeddah and Dammam, as well as some gulf and Arab countries and some western capitals which were linked by the distinguished relations with King Faisal.

The scientific seminar on "the History of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz," inaugurated by Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Riyadh region in the Saudi capital, resumed its activities and deliberations.

The papers delivered at the gathering included the history of King Faisal, including his services for the two Holy Mosques and the pilgrims, the Islamic solidarity and other related topics.

At the first session Dr. Jamal Mahmoud Hajer delivered a paper on the visit of King Faisal to England in 1926.

Dr. Joseph Kishishian from California University delivered another paper on the Saudi-American relations in the era of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz.

On his part, Sami Khalil Magosoba from Bamako University, shed light on the visit paid by King Faisal to Mali in 1966 as well as the visit of the Malian President to Saudi Arabia in 1964.

Dr. Abdel-Wahid Al-Nabawi from the national books and documents house in Egypt spoke about the visit of King Faisal to Britain in 1967.

Meanwhile, Dr. Saeed al-Qahtani from King Khalid University spoke on the first visit of King Faisal to Europe in 1919.

The second session was held under the chairmanship of Dr. Abdulaziz bin Salama, the assistant undersecretary of the ministry of culture and information for foreign information. Speaking at the second session, Dr. Abdulrahman al-Shibeili, delivered a paper on 'Faisal and Information.'

On her part, Dr Barbara Mikhyalik Bikoleska from the Institute of Orientalism in Poland, shed light on the historical significance of the visit of King Faisal to Poland in 1932. He noted that Poland was the ninth country which announced recognition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

She pointed out that the visit had paved the way for establishing relations between the Kingdom and Poland.

Dr. Zaidan Khuweilif from the French Nanterre University delivered a lecture under the title of' King Faisal in the French official and information archive'. He highlighted the circumstances in which King Faisal ascended to the throne in November 1964.

He noted that King Faisal was warmly welcomed in France in 1973, and during that visit the French president underscored the importance of resumption of the Islamic-Christian dialogue.

On his part, Dr. Mahmoud Shakir Saeed from Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, shed light on the cultural life in the era of King Faisal as well as the sorrow felt by the people over his death.

Dr. Salih al-Khireiji spoke about King Faisal, the poet and literary man.

The Symposium on the Biography of late King Faisal bin Abdulaziz, organized by King Abdulaziz Center for Archive and Studies, was concluded in Riyadh.

The final day included the 7th and 8th sessions in which scientific papers were presented during the deliberations.

At the conclusion of the symposium, the participants valued support by the Saudi leadership to the centre.

In a statement to Saudi Press Agency, Secretary General of the centre Dr. Fahd Alsmari said the final communiqué included praise by the participants of the symposium’s success and made a number of recommendations including the printing of the 34 papers presented at the symposium and supporting the historical studies on King Faisal.