Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Crown Prince receive General Control Bureau annual report

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz receives two messages from Qatar's Emir, Turkish President

Crown Prince receives GCC health ministers, chairs meeting of national commission of wildlife conservation & development

Crown Prince receives Qatari premier, speaker of Malaysian parliament

Saudi Arabia confirms to UN keenness to maintain child care, fight children abuse

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz received at Al-Yamamah palace Chief of General Control Bureau Osama Jaafar Faqih and a number of the Bureau's officials.

At the outset of the audience, Faqih said, " I have the honor to submit the Bureau's annual report for the fiscal year 1426/1427H," expressing his thanks and gratitude to the monarch for supporting the role of the Bureau and continually following up its performance emanating from the determination of the state under the King's leadership to continue the march of economic, financial and administrative reform, to combat corruption, to eliminate routine and to develop systems aiming at upgrading the performance of the governmental bodies and increasing their efficiency.

He noted that according to the report and as a result of detecting violations and mistakes, more than SR 315 million had been saved during the fiscal year1426/1427H, pointing that nearly SR 1,200 million had been regained for the state's treasury over the past five years.

Then Faqih handed the Monarch a copy of the Bureau's annual report for the fiscal year 1426/1427H.

Addressing the audience, the King thanked all employees of the Bureau, commending their role in controlling all ministries and governmental institutions.

The King wished them all success, urging all to exert more efforts in the service of their religion, homeland and Saudi citizens.

The audience was attended by Prince Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Jelawi and a number of princes and officials.

On the other hand, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz received a message from Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

The message was delivered to the king by Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Baba Jan during an audience.

The minister also conveyed greetings of Turkish leaders to the king who in turn sent his greetings to them.

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

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz received also a message from Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah Al Thani.

The message was delivered to the king by Qatari ambassador to the kingdom Ali bin Abdullah Al Mahmood during an audience.

The ambassador conveyed greetings of the Emir of Qatar to the king who in turn sent his greetings to the Emir.

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

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz received Speaker of Malaysian Parliament Nfah bin Talib and the accompanying delegation currently visiting the kingdom.

The speaker conveyed greetings of Malaysian leaders to the king who in turn sent his greetings to them.

The audience was attended by a number of princes and officials.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz received at his palace the leader of the Lebanese Progressive Socialist Party and Member of Parliament Walid Jumblatt accompanied by the Minister of Information Ghazi Al-Aridhi.

During the audience, they reviewed the current crisis in Lebanon.

Mean while, The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who is also the Head of King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Talent and Creativity, has approved the new statute of the Foundation, change of its name from King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for the Gifted, and expansion of its work to care for talent and creativity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia rather than the care for the gifted people and inventors.

In a press conference, the Minister of Education Dr. Abdullah bin Salih Al-Obaid who is also the Foundation's Deputy Head expressed his thanks to and appreciation of the King and the Crown Prince on the occasion of approving the new statute.

Under the patronage of the King, the Foundation will organize with the participation of Saudi Aramco "First Saudi Invention Exhibition 2008" in Riyadh on March 9-13, Dr. Al-Obaid said.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Health Ministers on the occasion of holding the 64th Conference of GCC Health Ministers in Riyadh.

The Crown Prince praised the efforts exerted by GCC health ministers to develop health sector as well as the support and attention paid by GCC leaders to this sector. The Crown Prince wished the ministers all success in their conference.

On their part, the health ministers thanked the Crown Prince for receiving them.

The audience was attended by a number of senior officials.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasim bin Jabr Al Thani, Qatar's premier and foreign minister.

The Qatari official conveyed greetings of the emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah Al Thani to the crown prince who in turn sent his greetings to the Qatari emir.

During the audience, ways of boosting bilateral cooperation between the two countries were reviewed.

The audience was attended by Prince Dr. Mishaal bin Abdullah bin Mosaed, Advisor to the Crown Prince, and other officials.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabr Al Thani, Qatar's premier and foreign minister, and the accompanying delegation left at the airport where he was seen off by a number of officials.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received Speaker of the Malaysian Parliament Ramly bin Naghat Talib.

The Malaysian official conveyed greetings of Malaysian leaders to the crown prince who in turn sent his greetings to them.

The audience was attended by Prince Dr. Mishaal bin Abdullah bin Mosaed, Advisor to the Crown Prince, and other officials.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received at Al-Yamamah palace Chief of General Control Bureau Osama Jaafar Faqih and a number of the Bureau's officials.

At the outset of the audience, Faqih said, " I have the honor to submit the Bureau's annual report for the fiscal year 1426/1427H," expressing his thanks and gratitude to the Crown Prince for supporting the role of the Bureau emanating from the determination of the state to continue the march of economic, financial and administrative reform and to develop systems aiming at upgrading the performance of the governmental bodies and increasing their efficiency.

He noted that according to the report and as a result of detecting violations and mistakes, more than SR 315 million had been saved during the fiscal year1426/1427H.

Then Faqih handed the Crown Prince a copy of the Bureau's annual report for the fiscal year 1426/1427H.

The Crown Prince commended the Bureau's role in controlling all ministries and governmental institutions, wishing the Bureau's employees all success.

The audience was attended by Dr. Mishaal bin Abdullah bin Musaed, Advisor to the Crown Prince and a number of officials.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, has congratulated Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Secretary General of the Higher Tourism Commission, and the Commission's personnel on the occasion of the international recognition of the Commission's administrative systems in addition to awarding it the ISO international certificate (the international quality certificate) for 2007.

Prince Sultan bin Salman, who received a cable of reply from Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, expressed appreciation for this kind gesture.

He attributed the achievements attained by the Commission to the grace of Allah Almighty and the great attention being given by the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz to the various sectors of the state.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, who is also Chairman of Board of Directors of National Commission of Wildlife Conservation and Development, chaired the board's 21st meeting.

Following the meeting, Dr. Fahd bin Abdulrahman Balghunaim, the Minister of Agriculture and the commission's managing director said that the meeting approved a draft amendment to the system of protected areas of wildlife; a draft amendment to the trafficking system of endangered wildlife, and draft regulation of Arab Union of Natural Protected Areas.

The meeting was attended by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Makkah Region; Prince Turki Bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz, President General of Meteorology and Environment Protection; Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Mohammed Al Saud, the Commission's Secretary General, and a number of ministers and officials.

In New York, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stressed that it has been giving childhood relevant care and attention for a long time and this was shown in the humanitarian aspect represented by the material and moral support it gives.

The member of the Saudi Permanent representative in the UN said that the Saudi Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, took the bulk of its attention to child care and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, child protection and prevention of child violence, exploitation, abuse and trafficking and the employment of juveniles, the importance of children's education and provision of necessary health care and face serious diseases which threaten them such as AIDS and polio.

This came in a speech before the General Assembly of the United Nations in its current 62nd session delivered by Mr. Tarek Ben Khaddam Al Fayiz member of the Kingdom's Permanent Delegation to the United Nations during the ninth annual meeting in the General Assembly Hall of the Financial Commitments of the UNICEF, during the first regular session of the Executive Council of the UNICEF.

Tarek Ben Khaddam Al Fayiz said that the Kingdom contributed one million dollars annually since the year 1976 to the budget of the United Nations Fund for Children UNICEF.

The Kingdom also provided $ (100) thousand dollars to the fund for projects to eradicate polio from the neighboring countries of the Kingdom as well as the amount of 500 thousand dollars to contribute in the eradication of polio.

It noted that the Gulf Program to support the United Nations Development Organizations AGFUND which is presided over by His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud has donated about (80) million dollars to the UNICEF since its inception.

The Kingdom thanked the UNICEF for the considerable efforts undertaken by it in Child Care and attention.

The Kingdom stressed her continued support to everything concerning the human and social side of the child.

The following is the full text of the speech:

In Name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate,

Mr. President,

It gives me great pleasure to extend my greetings to you and the members of the Office of the United Nations Fund for Children.

This meeting comes on the occasion of the 1st ordinary session for the executive council of the Financial Commitments of the UNISE for the year 2008, an opportunity to thank the Organization for the great efforts undertaken by it and to note the considerable efforts undertaken by the Member States to finance development goals.

Mr. President,

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has for a long time given considerable attention to childhood care and the humanitarian aspect symbolized in the moral and material support.

The Government has Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud contributed to the budget of the United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF) the amount of one million dollars annually since 1976.

The Kingdom also provided 100 thousand dollars for the fund for eradicating polio from the neighboring countries of the Kingdom, as well as the amount of 500 thousand dollars to the project of eradication of polio.

The Kingdom's efforts are still continuing in the form of continued support for all the humanitarian and social aspects of the child.

Mr. President,

The Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud provided a lot of material support for all sisterly and friendly countries, which were symbolized in providing two million, two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars in 2006 to implement educational and health projects in Lebanon.

The Kingdom also donated 3 million dollars for relief efforts in Darfur in November 2004. This has been an important contribution to UNICEF to help meet the challenges facing the people of Darfur and to meet their basic needs.

I refer also to the Arab Gulf Program for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), which is headed by His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud which donated about 80 million dollars to UNICEF since its inception.

Mr. President,

The Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud took interest in child care to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and to protect children and prevent them from violence, exploitation, abuse, trafficking, and employment of juveniles.

It is important to educate children and provide them with the necessary health care and prevent them from serious diseases such as AIDS and polio.

Mr. President,

In conclusion, the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud continues the support of International and Regional Organizations and is keen to fulfill its obligations to those organizations, and is showing keenness to uphold her commitments towards these organizations. On behalf of the Government of the Kingdom, I thank the UNISEF for the considerable efforts it has undertaken in Children's care and attention to them.

Thank you, Mr. President. "

In Chad, The Foreign Ministry announced the evacuation of all staff of Saudi Embassy and their families in Chad, and the closure of the embassy.

In a statement, the ministry said that upon the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, and continual follow-up by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister since the beginning of the crisis of the Saudi citizens at the Saudi Embassy in N’djamena, all embassy's staff and their families were evacuated and they are on their way to the Kingdom aboard a special plane and a medical evacuation plane carrying the body of Siham bint Abdulrahman Al-Zahrani, wife of the embassy's staff member Abdulrahman Al-Zahrani and his daughter Miral. Medical care for child Ahmad and female child Mizon, the children of Abdul Rahman Al-Zahrani was provided, the ministry said.

The ministry prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive the deceased, to bless their souls and to consider them among martyrs and prayed for the recovery of the injured.

The employees were evacuated and the embassy was closed down following the recent events in the Chadian Capital - N'djamena.

They were received at the airport of Riyadh Airbase by Minister of State for foreign affairs Dr. Nizar Madani and a number of senior officials.

Prince Khalid bin Saud bin Khalid, the director of the financial and administrative affairs at the foreign ministry, said the members of the embassy's staff were transported from Chad to Gabon prior to their arrival in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Asked about the security plans of the foreign ministry for confronting such cases, he said the recent events in Chad were not the first of their kind.

He pointed out that such events took place in Lebanon two years ago, adding that there are always plans to confront such emergencies.

Prince Khalid said the Saudi embassy in Chad was taken by surprise when the rebels arrived in the Capital of Chad prior to the evacuation of the citizens of the foreign countries.

He noted that it was difficult for any country to evacuate its citizens under the continuation of the civil war in the streets of the Chadian Capital.

Prince Khalid said a grenade fell at the residence of the Saudi ambassador to Chad.

The outcome of the investigations in this respect will soon be announced, God willing, he said.

Prince Khalid said the foreign ministry has taken the required arrangements for the psychological treatment of the returnees notably the two children.