Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques discusses with Bahrain's Crown Prince regional, international developments

Saudi, Bahraini Crown Princes review region's affairs, international situation

Prince Sultan: Youths well-acquainted with science are of utmost importance for development

Arab interior ministers to amend anti-terror agreement

Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz: Citizens' cooperation with security systems is basic element to fight terror

Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz hails King, CP on supporting citizens suffering from cold wave

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz received at his palace Bahrain's Crown Prince and Deputy Commander in Chief of Defense Force Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The Bahraini Crown Prince conveyed to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques the greetings of Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. In turn, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz sent his greetings to the Bahraini King.

During the audience, they discussed regional and international topics and aspects of cooperation between the two brotherly countries.

The audience was attended by Prince General Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Deputy Commander of the National Guard for Military Affairs and Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Eiban, Minister of State and Cabinet's Member.

On the Bahraini side, the audience was attended by the delegation accompanying the Crown Prince.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz received at his palace Chief Executive of Hong Kong Administrative Region Donald Yam Kion Tsang and the accompanying delegation currently on a visit to the Kingdom.

During the audience, they reviewed topics of mutual concern. The audience was attended by Prince General Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Deputy Commander of the National Guard for Military Affairs and Khalid Al-Gosaibi, the Minister of Economy and Planning.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz received a telephone call from Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Salih. During the call, they discussed regional and international development topped by the situation in the Middle East. They also discussed the relations between the two countries.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, held here today a meeting with Bahraini Crown Prince and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, who conveyed to him the greetings of King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain.

They reviewed the latest developments at regional and international arenas as well as means of enhancing the bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet Dr Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Eiban.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General arrived at the Eastern region. The Crown Prince was welcomed at the King Abdulaziz Air Base by Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah bin Jelawi, Prince Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Eastern region and a number of princes and officials.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General left Riyadh for the Eastern Region. At Riyadh Air Base, the Crown Prince was seen off by Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation for Civil Aviation affairs; Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for Military Affairs, Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Secretary General of the National Security Council for intelligence and security affairs; Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Sultan, Advisor at the Crown Prince's Court and a number of princes and officials.

The Minister of Culture and Information, Iyad bin Amin Madani met with the Bahraini Information Minister, Jihad Bukamal. During the meeting, they discussed the bilateral cooperation between the two countries including cultural and information ties. The meeting was attended by the Ministry's Under Secretary for Information Affairs, Dr. Abdullah Al-Jasser.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received a number of princes, sheikhs, senior officers of the armed forces, the National Guard and public security in the eastern region and a group of citizens who came to greet him. During the audience, a number of poems were delivered and all had lunch with the Crown Prince. The audience was attended by a number of princes and senior officials.

In Tunis, The 25th session of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers issued a final communiqué stating that a number of Arab interior ministers delivered speeches explaining the current security threats topped by the phenomenon of terrorism and stressed keenness to continue the development and bolster the joint Arab Security procession.

The ministers approved a number of recommendations related to the implementation of security strategies and plans including the Arab Security Strategy, Arab Strategy for Combating terrorism, Arab Strategy for Combating Illicit Traffic on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, and Arab Strategy for Civil Protection.

A number of agreements reached by the joint committees of the Arab Interior Council and the Arab Justice Council were also approved by today's meeting. They included the Arab Agreement for Combating Corruption, draft of Arab Agreement for Combating Organized Crime across national borders, draft of Arab Agreement on Computer Crimes and draft Agreement on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Finance.

The meeting approved the 2007 report on the performance of the Riyadh-based Prince Naif Arab University for Security Sciences. The ministers lauded the effort exerted by Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in his capacity as Chairman of the university's Board of Directors, in support of the university's activities and programs. Thanks also went to Dr. Mohammed bin Ali Koman, Secretary General of the council, for the excellent work of the Secretariat General.

The Council called on the ministries of interior in the member states to extend support for the security departments in Lebanon and Iraq to help them undertake their missions more efficiently. The ministers also condemned all forms of terrorist acts and underscored the importance of continuing the joint efforts to set up an international center for combating terrorism.

The ministers sent a telegram to President of Tunisia for warm welcome and generous hospitality and for his interest in the mission of the Arab Interior Ministers Council.

The Saudi delegation was led by Interior Minister Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, who also serves as honorary president of the Council. Arab Interior Ministers held a session as part of the official opening of the works of the 25th session of their Council earlier Wednesday under the patronage of Tunisian President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali.

Addressing the session, Prince Naif said that what the Ministers had deliberated in the session reflects their optimism and hopes about realities in our countries. He also expressed his personal hope that all which had been expressed by ministers in terms of their desires and aspirations for a better future of the Arab World, would, God willing, be realized. "However, there is nothing more to be added to what had already been spelt out by the Ministers."

Commenting on the speeches delivered by the Interior Ministers and interactions during the session, Prince Naif said "With the passage of 25 years since the Council's establishment, every minister wanted to thank and explain what the Council has accomplished."

"No doubt that the feelings and senses which we have, are all full of optimism, honesty, Arabism and Islamism," Prince Naif added. Renewing his hope for what all is desired by the Ministers to be achieved as well as their commitment to tackle all issues of the Arab World, Prince Naif said "Wishes are one thing and realities are another thing."

"However, feelings and senses, especially their security sense towards Arab human beings and the Arab soil should be appreciated," Prince Naif noted. He pointed out that there is an agreement on the agenda.

In his address, the Council's Secretary General Dr. Mohamed bin Ali Koman expressed his thanks to President Zine El-Abidine for inaugurating the Council's deliberations as well as highlighted the great care being extended to the Council by Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz.

"The Council has been playing a major role in bolstering the comprehensive perception of Arab Security and decisively and effectively confronting all forms and tools of crimes in The Arab World," he said.

Speaking on security challenges represented in the hike of the organized crimes in all its forms world-wide, in particular terrorism that has become a global threat against all, Dr. Koman condemned terrorist acts in some Arab Countries.

The Council's Secretary General denounced the State Terrorism being committed by Israel against the Palestinian People and serious violations it is making in The Palestinian occupied Territories and the strangling blockade it imposed on the Gaza strip that make more than 1.5 Million Palestinians vulnerable to all types of risks.

The Council General Secretariat is keen to carry out directives of the Interior Ministers to enhance the joint Arab security process and cementing progress and development in the Arab Countries, he elaborated.

Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, chaired the ordinary meeting of Riyadh Region Council.

At the outset of the meeting, Prince Salman expressed in his own name and on behalf of the members of the council thanks to and appreciation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, for the assistance provided for citizens suffering from the cold wave in the northern parts of the country as well as the measures taken by the government to help cope with the phenomenon of price hikes, including the reduction of port fees, provision of cost of living allowance, increase of subsidy for social insurance appropriations, prevention of monopoly, and acceleration of implementing popular housing. The council then discussed a wide-range of vital issues of the region.

The council reviewed topics on the agenda which included projects for the promotion of the health, educational and economic services. The council also reviewed the projects approved in the state's budget for Riyadh region during the fiscal year 1428-1429.

These projects included new projects at a total cost of SR785, 245,000, and supporting allocations of a number of existing projects with SR351, 000,000.

They also included new projects at a total cost of sr1,088,550,000, electric projects at a total cost of sr3,610,783,000 and water projects at a total cost of sr1,925,000,000.

The projects included projects for the higher education ministry at a total cost of SR2,084,975,000, projects for King Saud University at a total cost of SR560,620,000, projects for Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University at a total cost of SR516,000,000, projects for the ministry of education at a total cost of more than sr1 billion, new projects for the ministry of Islamic affairs, endowments, call and guidance at a total cost of SR820,865,000 as well as new projects for the ministry of culture and information at a total cost of SR48,000,000.

Prince Salman urged the concerned officials to take the appropriate measures for implementing these projects in line with the directives of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.

Mean while, KSA announced, as Prince Khalid bin Sultan, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation for Military Affairs, said that the kingdom will receive 72 Typhoon planes next year in the framework of a deal signed last year between Riyadh and London. The deal is estimated at £4.43 billion ($8 billion). This deal comes in the framework of a MOU between Riyadh and London signed on August1st, 2006 to develop the Saudi armed forces, aiming at convening the technology, investing in the defense industries sector and training the Saudis in the field of aviation.

This occurred while Prince Khalid bin Sultan opened a symposium on "Asbestos disadvantages and the safe way to manage without it". He added that it will be the first time for a number of scientists and professionals in the field of engineering, medicine and environment to meet together to discuss this important topic which has a great impact on human lives.

"It also embodies the keenness of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince on protecting the human beings and the environment," he said.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan said the symposium will have significance as regards shedding light on the dangers of asbestos and its health danger. Calling for further studies and researchers, he said 'our engineers, physicians and technicians are not less in their efficiency than their western counterparts."

Following the function, Prince Khalid pointed out to the directives of the Crown Prince, more than seven years ago, to get rid of this material at all installations of the ministry of defense and aviation.

"Thanks to Allah Almighty, in Sharoura and the Southern region, we have approximately got rid of asbestos," he said.

Asked about the purchase of the Kingdom of Typhoon planes, he said the planes will arrive next year and that their total number is 72.

The function was attended by a number of senior military officials.