Vice-Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques reviews with Bahraini monarch regional situation, int'l developments

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz receives message from Jordan's monarch; receives Netherlands' heir apparent

CP patronizes handover ceremony of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Award for Water; 3rd International Conference on Water Resources and Arab Water Forum starts

Vice-Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques awards winners Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Award

Vice-Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa held a bilateral meeting in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they discussed the latest developments in the Gulf, Arab and international arenas, prospects of cooperation between the two brotherly countries and ways of their enhancement in all fields.

Following the meeting, the Vice-Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques saw off the Bahraini King and the accompanying delegation, wishing them a happy trip.

Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud held a reception and dinner party in honor of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain and the accompanying delegation.

The party was attended by Prince Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Bandar bin Mohammad bin Abdulrahman; Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Interior Minister; Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region; a number of other princes; ministers and senior officials.

At Riyadh Air Base Airport, the Bahraini monarch was received by Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Interior Minister, Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, a number of other princes, ministers and senior officials.

The Bahraini king was accompanied by a delegation including Sheikh Nasir bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, a number of other sheikhs and senior officials.

Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received a message for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud from King Abdullah II Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan.

The message was delivered to the Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques by Adviser to King of Jordan for Tribal Affairs Al-Sharif Fawaz bin Zaban bin Abdullah during an audience with Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques at the Royal Court at Al-Yamamah Palace.

The Adviser conveyed the greetings of the Jordanian King to the Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. In turn, the Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques sent his greetings to the Jordanian King.

The audience was attended by a number of officials.

Vice-Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques received Netherlands' Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange and Chairman of the Advisory Commission of United Nations Secretary General for Water and Sanitation Affairs.

Prince Willem conveyed to the Vice-Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques the greetings of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. In turn, Prince Sultan sent his greetings to the queen.

Prince Willem expressed his pleasure over meeting the Vice-Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

In his capacity as the Commission's Chairman, he expressed his appreciation of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz for his efforts represented in the establishment of the award aimed at promoting efforts to achieve water security and issues of water of concern in the world.

The audience was attended by Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Riyadh region, Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for Military Affairs and Chairman of Council of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz World Award for Water and a number of ministers and officials.

Vice-Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud graced the handing-over ceremony of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Award for Water in its 3rd session for 2006/2008.

The ceremony was attended by Netherlands' Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange and Chairman of the Advisory Commission of United Nations Secretary General for Water and Sanitation Affairs.

Upon arrival at the venue, Prince Sultan was received by Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation for Military Affairs and Chairman of the Award Council; Minister of Water and Electricity Eng. Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al-Hussein and a number of officials.

In an address on the occasion, Prince Khalid bin Sultan said "many years had past since the announcement of the Prize. Of these, six years have witnessed political conflicts, economic and financial crises in addition to natural disasters which had not spared any country. Then, we have been alerted by the hazards of water scarcity, pollution, desertification and drought".

"Moreover, the problems have been exacerbated and the risks have been increased.

There has been excessive water consumption, waste, pollution, depletion in addition to nations turning into below the water scarcity line as well as emergence of man-made severe drought".

He noted that the experts in the four-day conference of The 3rd International Conference on Water Resources and Arid Environments (2008) and the 1st Arab Water Forum which was held concurrently with the Awards Ceremony of the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Award for Water (3rd Award 2006-2008) will address the current water crisis through integrated water management, water and culture, water awareness campaigns and water consumption behaviors.

Speaking on the occasion, the Netherlands' Crown Prince highlighted the efforts of Saudi Arabia in the service of issues pertaining to water.

He underlined the importance of the studies and researches presented by the winners of the prize, and said they would play a positive role as regards solving water problems.

Praising Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Award for Water, he said it will positively contribute to enhancing ongoing efforts for solving water problems.

The winners of Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Award for Water (3rd Award 2006-2008) are as follows:

- Dr. Chih Ted Yang –1st Branch – Surface Water: Borland Professor of Water Resources and Director of the Hydro science and Training Center, Department of Civil Engineering, Colorado State University.

- Dr. Wolfgang Kinzelbach – winner 2nd Branch – Ground Water: Professor of Hydro mechanics, ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology).

- Dr. Abdulwahab Mohammad – co-winner 3rd Branch – Alternative (Non-traditional) Water Resources:

Deputy Dean and Professor (Membrane and Separations Technology), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (University Kebangsaan Malaysia), and Saline Water Conversion Corporation – co-winner 3rd Branch – Alternative (Non-traditional) Water Resources.

Dr. Zainuddin Abd Manan – co-winner 4th Branch – Water Resources Management & Protection:

Professor of Chemical Engineering and the founder of Process Systems Engineering Centre (PROSPECT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (University Teknologi Malaysia), and Decision Center for a Desert City – co-winner 4th Branch – Water Resources Management & Protection:

Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.

The Award Selection Committee withheld the Creativity Prize and said it will not be awarded during this round.

Later, the Vice-Custodian the two Holy Mosques Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz graced a dinner party held on this occasion.

It was attended by Prince Fahd bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz, a number of other princes and senior officials.

On behalf of the Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz; Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation for Military affairs opened in Riyadh the International Conference on "Water Resources and Arid Environment" and the First Arab Water Forum at King Fahd Cultural center Riyadh.

He stressed the importance of the conference which coincides with handing-over award ceremony, which confirms the prince's interest in water research, technology and management not only in the Kingdom but also in the whole world.

In his speech, Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz said that we meet today on three occasions of water demonstrating the importance of this strategic commodity.

The prince called for taking the initiative to confront the water piracy and deter it.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz pointed out that all peoples sense the danger of terrorism and most countries have not given attention to the possibility that terrorism changes its strategy and targets water resources. He added one day we wake on water terrorism that destroys desalination plants and poisons rivers, pipelines, wells and groundwater. He called for giving paramount importance to biological terrorism.

The prince called for a water summit similar to the financial summit.

He called on all countries to quickly develop strategies and action plans to mitigate the negative effects of the phenomenon of climate change as well as the adoption of effective programs at local and regional levels to exchange information and coordinate with international mechanisms.

On biofuels, he called for putting an end to this absurd playing with life potentials and to specify priorities for water use.

He proposed holding a summit to discuss and suggest alternatives, and to take decisions and to implement them to save mankind.

In conclusion, the Prince expressed his thanks to and appreciation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Vice Custodian and the leadership for hosting effective seminars and forums that alleviate the water crisis at present and in the future.

Then Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz honored companies and institutions sponsoring the conference.

Later, he opened an exhibition accompanying the conference.

In a press statement, the Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for Military Affairs and Honorary President of the Arab Water Council affirmed that the Kingdom's hosting of the three events is considered as a pride for the Kingdom reflecting the concern of the Government of the Custodian Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and the Vice Custodian for water resources and their correct management.

The prince noted that the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has given importance to water and assigned a separate ministry for it; and it is now working in this framework to try to resolve the problem with the rest of the world and at the same time to educate the people of the Kingdom on the best exploitation and use of water.

On the proposed summit of water, he said, "I wish the Ministers of Water and international conferences adopt this summit and think of a solution to this shortage of water".

Addressing the attendance, H.E. Professor Dr. Abdullah Al-Osman, President of King Saud University, welcomed Prince Khalid for gracing the inauguration ceremony. He announced a number of future projects in some governorates, some of which is setting up two university cities.