Religions for Peace hails King Abdullah plea for inter-faith dialogue

CNN says Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques a history-maker

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz receives King Abdullah Education Development annual report

Crown Prince donates £1 million to Britain Ashmolean Museum

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received at his office at the Royal Court at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh Chief Executive Officer of the US Chamber of Commerce Tom Donohue and the accompanying delegation.

During the audience, several economic issues of mutual interest between the two countries were discussed.

The audience was attended by Prince Saud Al Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Prince Miqren bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Adviser to the King; Prince Mansour bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz, Adviser to the King; Prince Dr. Bandar bin Salman bin Mohammed Al Saud, Adviser to the King; Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri, Adviser to the King; Amr Abdullah Al-Dabbagh, Governor of General Investment Authority; Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Saudi Ambassador to the United States of America; and Ford Fraker, US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received at his office at the Royal Court at Al-Yamamah Palace the Speaker of Turkish Nation Council Koksal Toptan and the accompanying delegation.

During the audience, the Speaker conveyed to the King the greetings of Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In turn, the Monarch sent his greetings to them.

Several issues of interest to the two countries were discussed during the audience.

The audience was attended by Prince Miqren bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Adviser to the King; Prince Mansour bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz, Adviser to the King; Prince Dr. Bandar bin Salman bin Mohammed Al Saud, Adviser to the King; Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Homaid, Shoura Council Chairman; Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri, Adviser to the King; Mohammed bin Raja Al-Husseini, Saudi Ambassador to Turkey; and Naci Koru, Turkish Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received at the Royal Court at Al-Yamamah Palace a number of princes, ministers, senior officials and a group of citizens who came to greet him.

The audience was attended by Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General.

The audience was attended by Prince Naif bin Abdullah bin Abdulrahman; Prince Yazeed bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Mansour bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz, Adviser to the King; Prince Dr. Bandar bin Salman bin Mohammed Al Saud, Adviser to the King; and Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri, Adviser to the King.

The Saudi king has made an impassioned plea for dialogue among Muslims, Christians and Jews — the first such proposal from a nation with no diplomatic ties to Israel and a ban on non-Muslim religious services and symbols.

The message from King Abdullah, which was welcomed by Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders, comes at a time of stalled peace initiatives and escalating tensions in the region.

Muslims have been angered by cartoons published in European papers seen as insulting the Prophet Muhammad and by the pope's baptizing on Easter of a Muslim journalist who had converted to Catholicism.

"The idea is to ask representatives of all monotheistic religions to sit together with their brothers in faith and sincerity to all religions as we all believe in the same God," the king told delegates Monday night at a seminar on "Culture and the Respect of Religions."

The specifics of Abdullah's initiative — and who would participate — remained unclear, in particular whether Israeli religious leaders would be invited to a Saudi-brokered dialogue. The kingdom and all other Arab nations except Egypt and Jordan do not have diplomatic relations with Israel and generally shun unofficial contacts.

The call — the first of its kind by an Arab leader — was significant. The Saudi monarch is the custodian of Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina, a position that lends his words special importance and influence. Abdullah said Saudi Arabia's top clerics have given him the green light — crucial backing in a society that expects decisions taken by its rulers to adhere to Islam's tenets.

It also raises the possibility that a religious dialogue could have a political impact in the Middle East, easing tensions between Arabs and Israelis in a way that years of off-and-on negotiations and political conferences have failed to do.

Leaders of different faiths in Religions for Peace, the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition, hailed Saudi King Abdullah’s powerful plea for dialogue among Muslims, Christians, and Jews. The King’s call for dialogue was all the more remarkable given the absence of Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic ties to Israel.

The King’s call builds on his historic meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in November 2007, a visit the Vatican recognized as advancing a broad discussion on the need for multi-religious and cultural dialogue “for the promotion of peace, justice and spiritual and moral values.” King Abdullah made clear that his call for dialogue addresses the entire world.

Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General of Religions for Peace, said, “Multi-religious cooperation is a key to building peace in the Middle East and around the world. The tragedy is that political initiatives have often closed the door to the positive role that multi-religious cooperation can play in building peace. King Abdullah is opening that door.”

Religions for Peace leadership from Saudi Arabia has been significant, including two former Secretaries General of the Muslim World League, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali and Dr. Abdullah bin Omar Nasseef. The latter is a Religions for Peace Honorary President. H.E. Sheikh Nasser Almutawa Alotaibi, Chairman and CEO of Samama Group of Companies, is a Religions for Peace International Trustee.

The Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, Moderator of Religions for Peace, noted that the King’s call for dialogue and cooperation was based on widely accepted principles that have allowed religious communities to achieve tangible results in resolving conflicts and advancing development. “Authentic multi-religious cooperation demands an honest recognition of religious differences and a commitment to cooperate on shared moral concerns. Honoring these principles has enabled Religions for Peace to work on the front lines of conflict and poverty while building a spirit of trust among different religious communities.”

Chief Rabbi David Rosen, a member of the Religions for Peace World Council and President of the International Jewish Committee for Inter-religious Consultations, said, “The powerful significance of King Abdullah’s call for multi-religious dialogue is impossible to overstate. Such multi-religious dialogue could have wide-ranging impact in the Middle East region by helping to engage religions in the building of peace.”

H.E. Dr. Mustafa Ceric, Grand Mufti of Bosnia-Herzegovina and a member of the Religions for Peace World Council, joined the other religious leaders in hailing the King’s call for dialogue. “Too many of us know too well the pain, suffering and devastation that war and conflict brings upon the innocent,” Dr. Ceric said. “Let us cooperate as religious believers for peace.”

Religions for Peace has been advancing multi-religious cooperation for peace since 1970. In December, its leaders in the Middle East took steps to form the Religions for Peace Middle East Council of Religious Leaders and the Religions for Peace Inter-religious Council of Palestine. Religions for Peace is present in Israel as the Israeli Inter-religious Coordinating Council.

CNN Network has affirmed that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has become a history-maker by his call for dialogue among religions.

In a report in its main bulletin, CNN pointed out to the King's call for dialogue among the heavenly religions for the protection of the humanity from frivolousness and his role in supporting the peace process in the Middle East.

Octavia Nasser, CNN's correspondent said 'King Abdullah has made history by his initiative which was welcomed by the religious quarters.

Head of the Religions' Dialogue Committee David Rosen said "Let us agree to shake hands with the hand that has been extended to Christians and Jews."

Meanwhile, Political Analyst Dr Maurice Jones said 'If it will be possible for a leader to attain an achievement as regards peace, then King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz is the most capable leader for doing that.'

Dr Maurice said "The US is hopeful that King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz is capable of doing a lot for realizing peace in the entire region.

The US alone can not realize peace, and it is in need of strong friends for realizing that goal, he said, adding that despite the numerous difficulties facing the region, yet King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has been attaining a lot of achievements including combating terrorism.

Dr Maurice believes a start to settle the issue of peace in the Middle East that remained unsettled for a long time is one of the most important matters. "So many people in the world count on King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and feel optimistic towards his style and strategy," he added.

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 in Riyadh Speaker of Turkish Nation Council Koksal Toptan and the accompanying delegation.

During the audience, the Speaker conveyed to the Crown Prince the greetings of Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In turn, the Crown Prince sent his greetings to them.

Issues of common interest were discussed during the audience.

The audience was attended by Prince Dr. Misha'al bin Abdullah bin Musaed, Adviser to the Crown Prince; Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Homaid, Shoura Council Chairman; Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Hodaithi, Chief of the Court of the Crown Prince; Mohammed bin Salem Al-Marri, Special Secretary to the Crown Prince; Dr. Mohammed bin Raja Al-Husseini, Saudi Ambassador to Turkey; and Naji Koru, Turkish Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

His Excellency, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the UK and Ireland, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf, donated a further £1 million to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford as part of an initiative by Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz to advance the work of the institution in increasing understanding between cultures and civilizations.

The funds will go towards building a new gallery at the museum, to be named after the Crown Prince, which will house artifacts from the Muslim world.

During a ceremony at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in London, the Ambassador thanked the Museum’s director, Dr Christopher Brown, for all of his work in advancing the collaboration between the Museum, Oxford University and Prince Sultan University in Riyadh. An agreement was signed as the donation was handed to Dr Brown, to extend the work of the three institutions even further to promote a greater appreciation of the heritage of Islam.

The gallery, said the Ambassador, would finally house artifacts that the Museum, for lack of space, had been unable to exhibit, adding that their display would contribute to a greater understanding between the Muslim world and the British people. His Excellency said that he was confident that further agreements would be reached in the future between museums in the Kingdom and in the UK.

The Ambassador highlighted the continued support of the Crown Prince and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for such initiatives.

Under the patronage of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, the Fourth Gulf Value Engineering Conference will be held here on April 22-24, 2008.

The conference will be organized by Saudi Engineers Association and the branch of International Value Engineers Society in collaboration with the General Directorate of Military Works at the Ministry of Defense and Aviation under the title " Effectiveness of Value Engineering in Economic Prosperity in the Gulf region''.

As many as 500 specialized experts and researchers interested in this area from the Kingdom and abroad will attend the Conference.

The chairman of the Association's board of directors Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah thanked the Crown Prince for his attention, care and support for the conference which embodies the position of Saudi Arabia at regional and international arenas.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia paid its share of the budget of the Arab Commission of Civil Aviation for 2008 with a value of 194,535 US dollars.

Permanent Representative of the kingdom to the Arab League Ambassador Ahmad bin Abdulaziz Qattan told Saudi Press Agency that he handed a check of the amount to the General Secretariat of the Arab League.

Qattan added that the kingdom also paid the third installment of its donation to the account of the support for the forces of the African Union in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Qattan told Saudi Press Agency that he handed the check of the third installment of the donation of one million US dollars to the General Secretariat of the Arab League.

The Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Alsheikh, who is also Chairman of the Senior Ulema Commission and Religious Research Department and Ifta (deliverance of legal opinions), stressed that Islam is fundamentally characterized by moderation, ease, tolerance and leniency and has no place for extremism, adding that extremists' positions cannot be considered part of religion, but against it.

This came in a press meeting with him on the occasion of the workshop and inauguration of the headquarters of the Chair of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz for Contemporary Islamic Studies at King Saud University.

The Mufti said, "We hope this chair will encourage scholarly research based on moderation without excess or carelessness to glorify Allah (God) and safeguard His law and to encourage specialists and researchers to go deep into this field and present strong arguments to confront the tides of extremism and alienation prevailing in the Islamic nation in this era. The Mufti stated that they should be confronted by verified Islamic knowledge based on Allah's Holy Quran and the Sunnah (tradition) of his Prophet, peace be upon him, because these two contain guidance and enlightenment. The Mufti said that Allah says: "Verily this Quran doth guide to that which is most right (or stable)".

The Mufti also said that Allah also says: "Then We put thee on the (right) Way of Religion: so follow thou that (Way), and follow not the desires of those who know not. They will be of no use to thee in the sight of God: it is only Wrong-doers (that stand as) protectors, one to another: but God is the Protector of the Righteous."

On the extremism of some people and the abandoning of moderation and failure to adhere to the firm principles of the religion under the guise of moderation and on his advice to the youth in this regard, the Mufti cited some sayings of the Prophet, peace be upon him, that encourage moderation and discourage extremism.

The Mufti stated that the basis of this religion is moderation, ease, tolerance and leniency so there is no room in it for extremism and the extremism of those who are radical cannot be considered as part of the religion but rather it is against the religion even if it is dressed falsely as being part of the religion.

The Mufti citied a hadith (saying) by the Prophet, peace be upon him, supporting this statement. As to those who deny the firm basics or fail to abide by them, the Mufti said those people deviate from the course of moderation and the faithful, adding that the religion of Allah is in the middle between those who exaggerate and those who abandon it.

The Mufti said that this is what Allah prescribed for us adding that it is stated clearly in Allah's book in where it is stated: "Thus, have We made of you an Ummah justly balanced, that ye might be witnesses over the nations, and the Apostle a witness over yourselves; and We appointed the Qibla to which thou wast used, only to test those who followed the Apostle from those who would turn on their heels (from the Faith). Indeed it was (a change) momentous, except to those guided by God. And never would God make your faith of no effect. For God is to all people most surely full of kindness, Most Merciful."

On the importance of the application of technology in Islamic studies, the Mufti encouraged the use of technology for the benefit of Islamic studies especially in the field of contemporary developments. The Mufti said the people in charge of this Chair are trustworthy and able to correctly judge the priority of studies.

The Mufti expressed thanks to Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz for his generous support for this chair and said it is not unusual for His Royal Highness. The Mufti said Crown Prince Sultan always supports charity work and efforts of public benefit. The Mufti prayed to Allah to reward the crown prince for this work.

The Mufti congratulated the director of King Saud University Dr. Abdullah Alothman on the chair, praising the development of the university in all fields.

He also thanked the members of the technical committee for their great efforts to develop this chair, wishing them success.

Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Interior, received in Riyadh Chief of Democratic Christian Conservatives Group at the Parliamentary Assembly of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Dr. Karl Lamers and the accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, they discussed a number of issues pertaining to cooperation in the field of combating terrorism and fighting crime at international level.

Prince Saud Alfaisal, the Foreign Minister, received in the Saudi capital Chinese Envoy for the Middle East Issue Son Baiqan and the accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, they discussed issues of common interest.

After holding its periodic meeting, the Council of Muftis in Lebanon, under the chairmanship of Grand Mufti Sheikh Muhammad Rashid Kabbani, issued a statement warning against the risks of perpetuating the presidential vacuum, which has gripped Lebanon since Emile Lahoud stepped down in November.

“In view of the council’s commitment to general national causes and concern for citizens and the fate of the nation,” the statement read, the council called for the election of Army Commander General Michel Sleiman as a consensual candidate as the first step in an initiative which would reactivate parliament. The Mufti Council also requested the formation of a national-unity government which would in turn agree on a new parliamentary electoral law which “achieved justice and reflected the honest will of the Lebanese people.”

The statement called for an end to the opposition sit-in in the Beirut Central District and led to “the paralysis of economic life in the heart of the capital Beirut.”

The council discussed the Arab Summit and Lebanon’s decision to absent itself from the meetings for the first time in the history of Arab summits as a political statement rejecting the presidential vacuum and confirming the Taif Accord as a basis of the nation.

The council invited all Arab countries to work for the implementation of their “constructive initiative in Lebanon” and praised the clarifications of Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal.