Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques discusses with Jordanian king regional and international developments

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz opens SR54-billion industrial projects in Jubail, SR174 billions appropriated for projects under construction

Crown Prince Sultan arrives in Morocco for convalescence after successful surgery in US

Prince Sultan Cultural Center opened in Niger at a cost of 24 million SR

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and King Abdullah II ibn Alhosain of Jordan held a meeting in which they discussed regional and international developments topped by the Palestinian cause and ways of boosting Saudi-Jordanian relations in all fields.

The meeting was attended by Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister and other senior officials.

King Abdullah held a luncheon in honor of the Jordanian monarch and his accompanying delegation. The banquet was attended by Prince Naif and other Saudi officials.

King Abdullah has launched a number of developmental and industrial projects in Jubail Industrial City.

Upon his arrival, the King was received by Governor of Eastern Region Prince Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz; President of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY) Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thunayyan Al Saud; vice Governor of Eastern Region Prince Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Mosa'id; Governor of Jubail Abdulmuhsin Al Otaishan; General Director of Jubail Royal Commission Jassim Al Hajji; SABIC's CEO Eng. Mohammed Al Madhi and a number of officials.

The King was briefed on education and training in the RCJY's educational and training institutions.

Then, RCJY's President delivered a speech in which he lauded the Kingdom's government’s determination to contain the current financial crisis.

He also stressed the King's continuous sponsorship of development projects across the country and particularly in Jubail.

Then, a speech was given by SABIC's CEO Eng. Al Madhi in which he valued the King's visit as well as praised the special support given to SABIC; a support that has enabled it to expand remarkably across the world.

The projects, at a total cost of approximately SR 54 billions, included Jubail's Water and Electricity Company and a number of projects.

The king and the audience watched a video show on the projects. Then, the king pushed a button marking the opening of the water and electricity producing plant, the world's largest duplicate project for the production of water and electricity. Then, the king watched a video show on the project.

Then, the king pushed a button marking the opening of the basic industries projects belonging to SABIC and a number of the private sector companies. Then, the king watched a video show on the projects.

Later, the king graced the luncheon held on this occasion and then left the venue of the ceremony.

The event was attended by Prince Naif and other senior officials.

The king also paid a visit to King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Riyadh, where he inspected the facilities of KACST, was briefed on its research centers and future plans, and launched projects of the second construction phase of the city.

Upon arrival at the venue, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was greeted by the President of KACST Dr. Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Suwaiyel; Prince Dr. Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed Al Saud, Deputy President of KACST for Research Institutes and Dr. Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Rashid, Deputy President of KACST for support of Scientific Research.

Then the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques toured an exhibition displayed on the fringes of this occasion, including pavilions of the City's research institutes. He was briefed on the City's objectives, achievements and future plans.

The King also toured the National Center for Research on techniques of micro-(nano) and was briefed on its research fields, objectives, applications of nanotechnology, scientific programs and research projects with the world's leading universities.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has personally participated in a test to produce a piece of nanotechnology, by pressing the button of the apparatus of laser's pulse.

The Monarch also watched some of his photographs printed on a chip of silicon, by using the scanning electronic microscope via X-ion technology on the nano scale, the first of its kind in the Middle East.

Then, the President of KACST Dr. Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Suwaiyel presented two satellite photos for Makkah and Madinah to the monarch.

In a key speech, Dr. Al-Suwaiyel expressed happiness for the King's visit to the City.

He said that the interests of the City were directed into three directions: service of the nation and nationals, support for national orientations and contribution in humanitarian knowledge.

He indicated that the establishment of KACST was bringing to reality a dream of the King going back to more than a quarter of a century.

During the visit, the King was accompanied by Prince Miqren bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince General Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the Assistant Deputy Commander of the National Guard for Military Affairs; Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and a number of officials.

On the other hand, Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General arrived in the Moroccan city of Agadir on April 29 coming from New York to spend some time for rest and recreation.

At Agadir airport, the Crown Prince was received by Prince Rasheed bin Al-Hasan II of Morocco; Prince Turki bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz, General President of Meteorology and Protection of Environment; Prince Sattam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain; and Prince Bandar bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.

The Crown Prince was also received by the Governor of Agadir Rasheed Al-Filali; Abdulmohsen bin Abdulrahman Al-Mehaisen, Chief of Special Affairs to the Crown Prince; Saudi Ambassador to Morocco Dr. Mohammed Al-Bishr; and senior protocol officials.

Escorted by Prince Rasheed bin Al-Hasan II, the Crown Prince headed for his residence in Agadir in an official motorcade.

The Crown Prince was accompanied by Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region; Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Minister of Interior; Prince Khalid bin Fahd bin Khalid; Prince Khalid bin Sa'ad bin Fahd; Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Musaed; Prince Faisal bin Saud bin Mohammed; Prince Faisal bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Secretary General for Prince Sultan Charity Foundation; Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz; and senior protocol officials.

The Crown Prince has left the United States earlier. At John Kennedy airport, he was seen off by Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for Military Affairs; Prince Naif bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz; Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz; Prince Saud bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz; Prince Mishaal bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz; Prince Fahd bin Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz; Prince Abdullah bin Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz; and senior protocol officials.

Prince Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Tabuk Region, reassured all on the health of Crown Prince Sultan after he accompanied the crown prince during his treatment trip in the US.

This came during a meeting between Prince Fahd and the people of the region.

Prince Fahd, "I reassure you on the health of the crown prince. He is well and healthy and will leave the United States of America during the coming hours after the treatment phase heading for the Kingdom of Morocco, Allah willing, to spend period of recuperation and rest and then will return home soon, Allah willing, to carry out his duties in the service of his religion and homeland."

Niger's Prime Minister Alsayed Seni Amrou opened on April 27 Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Cultural Center which was built in the Niger's capital of Niami at the expense of Crown Prince Sultan.

Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulmohsen Al-Turki, Secretary General of the Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL), was also present at the opening ceremony.

The facility, which was built on an area of 23,000 sq.m., cost SR24 million, West Africa's biggest cultural and educational complex.

It accommodates a two-story giant mosque, enough for more than 4,000 worshippers with separate place for females, 300-seat lecture room, 12-class two-story school, administrative offices, medical clinic, guest house, commercial mall, funeral-washing room, pumps room, water tower, public service network and personnel residential area.

Following the opening ceremony, MWL organized a symposium titled "Educational Development in West Africa" in which a host of scholars, callers and university professors took part.

A number of key dignitaries addressed the gathering. They were Dr. Abdullah bin D'ghlaib Al-Marzooki, General Supervisor for Prince Sultan Cultural Center; Tahirou Emadou, Governor of Niami; Brigadier General Jamaan bin Ali Al-Zahrani, Representative of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Relief Committee; Sheikh Esaka Labo, Niger's Minister of Religious Affairs and Humanitarian Action; Dr. Al-Turki; and Niger's Prime Minister Seni Amrou. All speakers on Niger's party lauded the care accorded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for Islam and Mulsims everywhere and any time.

They described relations between Saudi Arabia and Niger as flourishing and excellent.

They thanked Crown Prince Sultan for this humanitarian gesture.

Niger's Prime Minister drew the attention to the fact that MWL has built two medical facilities and an educational complex in Niger since 1973.

For his part, Al-Turki said Islam is an open religion for all and urges for dialogue and acculturation, citing the call of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for dialogue among cultures and civilizations.

Then memorial shields and gifts were exchanged between the Saudi and Nigerois sides.

Then Niger's Premier and MWL's Secretary General co-unveiled the plaque to mark the opening of the center.

The event was attended by a number of Niger's government officials; Saudi Charge D’affaires in Niami Faris bin Aidha Al-Thibaiti; and MWL's delegation.

On the other hand, Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, received in this Eastern Region's city of Al-Khobar the Special Advisor to the U.S. Secretary of State for Gulf and Southwest Asia Affairs Dennis B. Ross and the accompanying delegation.

During the audience, a number of issues of mutual concern as regards the Southwest Asia region were discussed.

The meeting was attended by Prince Mohammed bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz and Major General Saud Al-Dawood, Director General for the Interior Minister's office for Studies and Research.

Prince Naif also received in Riyadh on April 25 the Sudanese Ambassador to the Kingdom, Abdulhafez Ibrahim Mohamed, Algerian Ambassador to the Kingdom, Dr. Habib Adami and Malaysian Ambassador to the Kingdom Sayed Omar Al-Saqqaf, respectively.

The three ambassadors conveyed their own congratulations, the congratulations of their Government and peoples to Prince Naif for being appointed as Second Deputy Premier.

During the meetings, a number of topics of common interest between the Kingdom and the ambassador's countries were discussed between Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz and the three ambassadors.

Moreover, Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister also received a number of Ulema (Scholars), judges of courts of law in the Qassim region, the Chairman and members of the National Charity Assembly for Drug Prevention and a number of businessmen and intellectuals in the Western Region as well as a group of citizens who came from various cities and regions of the Kingdom to salute and congratulate Prince Naif following the issuance of the royal order appointing him Second Deputy Premier.

For his part, Prince Naif thanked all for their good feelings and sincere prayers, asking Allah Almighty to help him to perform his duties assigned to him by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General.

The meetings were attended by Prince Fahd bin Naif bin Abdulaziz and the Adviser to the Minister of the Interior, Dr. Saeed Al-Orabi Al-Harthy.

Also, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal received in Dammam on April 29 US State Secretary's special adviser for the Gulf and Southwest Asia Dennis Ross and his accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues were discussed. The meeting was attended by a number of officials.