CP agrees to be honorary president of Saudi Association for Sociology and Social Service

Interior minister asserts kingdom's control on borders with Iraq

Riyadh region governor receives winners of King Faisal International Prize

Saudi Arabia nominates itself to UN Human Rights Council

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received at his office at the Royal Court at Al-Yamamah Palace Assistant Chief of General Intelligence Prince Faisal bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Saud, who is also the Chairman of Steering Committee of Al-Aghar Group of Strategic Thought, and members of the Committee.

The Crown Prince was briefed by Prince Faisal bin Abdullah on the strategy for turning the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia into a knowledge-based society.

The audience was attended by Prince Dr. Mishaal bin Abdullah bin Musaed, Adviser to the Crown Prince; Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Hadithi, Chief of the Court of the Crown Prince; and Mohammed bin Salem Al-Marri, Special Secretary to the Crown Prince.

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz also received at his office at Al-Yamamah Palace at the Royal Court a number of princes; senior officials of the Royal Court, the Court of Crown Prince and the Presidency of Cabinet; Senior Commanders and Officers of the Royal Guard; and a group of citizens who came to offer condolences on the death of Princess Al-Bandari bint Abdulaziz.

The audience was attended by Prince Dr. Mishal bin Abdullah bin Musaed, Adviser to the Crown Prince; Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Adviser at the Court of Crown Prince; and a number of officials.

Meanwhile, Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz has agreed to be an Honorary President of Saudi Association for Sociology and Social Service based at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University.

The University's Director Dr Sulaiman bin Abdullah Aba Al-Khail expressed his thanks to and appreciation of the Crown Prince for the agreement, noting that the Crown Prince was selected for the honorary presidency for supporting scientific research, social issues, and specialist citizens in all fields including sociology and social service.

He cited the establishment of Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Charitable Foundation.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, hailed support for the National Festival for Heritage and Culture by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz who has nurtured this festival to become one of the major and most important cultural festivals.

In a statement to today's Janadriyah Bulletin, the crown prince highlighted support for the festival by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and said the support has given the festival great momentum, preserved and promoted the tradition of the past and helped learning about other cultures.

The crown prince thanked the National Guard and those in charge of the festival for their great efforts contributing to the success of the festival.

Meanwhile Saudi Higher Education Ministry dedicated 565 scholarships for the students of Prince Sultan University the current year 1428/1429 H within Saudi King's Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz's project of local scholarships.

A ministry's official urged to post all students who will use these scholarships to complete all papers and procedures required.

The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz graced King Faisal International Prize awarding ceremony in the presence of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General.

The Monarch was welcomed by Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Riyadh region, Prince Khalid al-Faisal, the Governor of Makkah region and Director General of King Faisal Foundation, as well as a number of senior officials.

The King handed over the prize of medicine to Donald Dean Trunkey, and Professor Basil Arthur Pruitt.

Meanwhile the King handed over the prize of sciences to Professor Rudiger Wehner.

On behalf of the winners Carole Hillenbrand, the Head of the department of Islamic studies at Edinburgh University, who won King Faisal International Prize to the Islamic Studies in 2005, highlighted the significance of the prize, and said the prize would positively contribute to narrowing the gap between the East and the West.

She said this prestigious prize is awarded to the persons who attain great achievements in the various domains irrespective of their religion or race. Later the King graced the dinner party held on the occasion.

The dinner party was attended by Prince Metib bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Interior Minister, as well as princes and senior officials.

Prince Abdullah bin Musaed al-Saud, the Governor of the Northern Borders, said awarding King Faisal International Prize to the service of Islam to the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz is not a strange matter because King Abdullah is the King of humanity and the leader of this blessed country.

In a press statement, he noted that King Abdullah has been dedicating his efforts for the service of the two Holy Mosques, and added that the expansion projects implemented in Makkah and Madinah provide a clear evidence for the great attention being given by King Abdullah to the pilgrims and Umrah (minor Hajj) performers.

Prince Abdullah bin Musaed lauded the significant role of King Abdullah in the service of the Arab and Muslim causes.

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz referred to the presence of al-Qaeda elements in his country.

Responding on a question on whether the ministry will announce new lists of terrorists, the Saudi prince said "maybe there are some elements or new plans but we will firmly face them."

"Our border security guards control the Saudi-Iraqi borders," he added, asserting on the need to control the borders on the Iraqi side.

Prince Naif said the kingdom proceeds in establishing the security fence on borders with Iraq.

Prince Naif's statements came while patronizing the 30th anniversary of King Faisal International Prize.

The interior minister said King Abdullah is the best man to be awarded the King Faisal International Prize to the service of Islam because he makes his utmost to serve Islam everywhere.

Prince Abdullah bin Musaed al-Saud, the Governor of the Northern Borders, said awarding King Faisal International Prize to the service of Islam to the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz is not a strange matter because King Abdullah is the King of humanity and the leader of this blessed country.

In a press statement, he noted that King Abdullah has been dedicating his efforts for the service of the two Holy Mosques, and added that the expansion projects implemented in Makkah and Madinah provide a clear evidence for the great attention being given by King Abdullah to the pilgrims and Umrah (minor Hajj) performers.

Prince Abdullah bin Musaed lauded the significant role of King Abdullah in the service of the Arab and Muslim causes.

Meanwhile, Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Interior Minister, received Saudi Ambassador designate to Russia Ali Hassan Jaafar and Saudi Ambassador designate to China Yahya bin Abdulkarim Al-Zaid.

During the meeting, Prince Naif urged the ambassadors to enhance relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on one hand and Russia and China on the other, wishing them all success in their national mission.

Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, received guests of Riyadh International Book Fair led by Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Madani and other officials.

The meeting was attended by a number of Arab intellectuals and several speeches were delivered on the occasion.

Prince Salman made some remarks in which he stressed that Islam unified the fighting tribes and the Arabs and built their civilization.

Prince Salman talked about the issues of democracy and women. He said, "On the first issue, Islam chose for us the shoura (consultation) as a course." Prince Salman cited verses of the Holy Quran that emphasize shoura. Prince Salman added that the shoura is a general directive and that each nation and country should choose the best way for this directive.

On the subject of women, Prince Salman said that Islam highly elevated the status of women but society needs more awareness to achieve more of the women's presence.

Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, received the winners of King Faisal International Prize over 30 years, including the winners of this year's prize.

Prince Salman welcomed the winners, saying that Islam is a religion of peace, love and compassion.

He commended Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Governor of Makkah Region; Director General of King Faisal Charitable Foundation; and Chairman of the Panel of King Faisal International Prize for their efforts exerted for the success of the prize.

Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region received Marcus Wallenberg, Chairman of Limited Scandinavian Bank, the largest company in North Europe countries and the accompanying delegation on the occasion of the convention of an annual meeting of senior agents of 50 international corporations in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they discussed a number of issues pertaining to mutual interests.

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

An official source at the Ministry of Interior issued a supplementary statement to the announcement on 25th Safar 1429H regarding what has been affirmed by investigations about the affiliation of elements arrested during Hajj season 1428H to the deviating group and their contacts with Al Qaeda leading elements outside the Kingdom who have directed them to rebuild the organization and to provide them with funds under the cover of charitable work by using voice message of Ayman al-Zawahiri stored on a memory of a mobile phone containing a recommendation to collect funds in pretext of supporting needy families in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The source said, "As investigations have reached information that citizens and residents were informed of this voice message, the Interior Ministry calls on all those whom were communicated with on this message, prior to its announcement, to report on telephone No. 990 during a week period starting from Sunday,1st Rabie Al-Awal 1429H and ending on Saturday, 7th Rabie Al-Awal 1429H".

The source noted that this has been made for verifying and clarifying positions, adding that regular procedures will be applied against each suspect immediately after the deadline.

Meanwhile, Representative of the Human Rights in the United Nations Council in Geneva Abdullah Al Sheikh said that kingdom of Saudi Arabia tries to mass support to elect itself in the U.N. council in the coming elections in May 2009, noting that the kingdom was nominated in 2006.

Regarding kingdom's stance on some negative reports from the Human Rights body, Al Sheikh described Saudi Arabia stance as clear and honest, asserting that most of these reports come from nongovernmental bodies.

He said that if there is any sort of failure the Human Rights will handle it in coordination and cooperation with the concerned Saudi authorities.