Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques patronizes ceremony to graduate specialized physicians, offers SR15m annually for Saudi Commission for Medical Specializations

GCC interior ministers' consultative meeting in Riyadh follows up security march in region

Prince Naif: Saudi security agencies eliminated deviant group through knowledge, optimal handling

Prince Faisal bin Khalid: Crown Prince's recovery is nation's recovery

Saudi Arabia urges settling GCC-EU free trade agreement

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz patronized the ceremony held by the Saudi Commission for Medical Specializations to graduate the 12th batch of physicians, dentists and pharmacists who won the Saudi specialization certificate (doctorate) and Saudi fellowship. The graduates' number reached 407 graduates in 34 specializations.

A speech ceremony was held on the occasion. The speakers thanked the king for patronizing the graduation ceremony and highlighted achievements during the reign of the king. Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Alrabaia'h stated that the king ordered supporting the budget of the Saudi Commission for Medical Specializations with SR15 million per year during the next three years and that the king approved the new health cadre.

King Abdullah received at his palace in Riyadh Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen and the accompanying delegation.

During the audience, the Dutch Foreign Minister conveyed the greetings Dutch Queen Beatrix and Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. In turn, the King sent his greetings to the leadership of the Netherlands.

A number of issues of common interest were discussed during the audience.

The audience was attended by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Fahd bin Mayouf Al-Ruwaili, Charge d'affaires of Saudi Embassy in Netherlands; and Ronald Strikker, Dutch Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister, said the tenth consultative meeting for the GCC interior ministers, which ended its deliberations on Tuesday night, was 'successful' and that it attained the desired goals.

In a press statement on conclusion of the meeting, Prince Naif said 'We are keen on activating our security relations with the Iraqi security organs'.

On the terror cell detected in Bahrain, he said 'We had received information in this respect at the time of the occurrence of the event. Moreover, we have been receiving detailed information (in this context) from the Bahraini Interior Minister and other security organs'.

Commenting on tension in Yemen, Prince Naif said 'that is clear and we pray to Allah Almighty to help our Yemeni brethren. However, we cooperate with them in this respect without any reservation'.

Prince Naif confirmed that the Saudi security authorities have successfully defeated the deviant group. "Thanks to Allah Almighty, we have attained great success in this respect".

As regards Saudi detainees in Guantanamo, Prince Naif said "We are proceeding ahead on these issues and we hope it will not take a long time. At the same time, We also hope that there will be no Saudi detainee'.

On the recent earth tremor in Madinah region, Prince Naif said that is something from Allah Almighty, and the concerned security authorities have been following up the issue.

Interior Ministers of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council concluded their 10th consultative meeting in Riyadh.

Prince Naif led the delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the meeting.

Following the meeting, GCC Secretary General Abdulrahman Al-Atiyyah said the ministers have approved a mechanism for holding annual consultative meeting in May in the country which hosts the headquarters of the GCC.

He noted that the interior ministers had reviewed aspects of security cooperation among the GCC states, and other issues like drugs, movement of GCC citizens with their Identity Card (ID) in all member states of the GCC.

The GCC is made up of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

The ministers had started in Riyadh their 10th Consultative Meeting under the chairmanship of Oman's Interior Minister Saud bin Ibrahim Albosaeedi.

At the outset of the meeting, Albosaeedi thanked the government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for warm welcome and generous hospitality.

On behalf of the participants, Albosaeedi congratulated Prince Naif on his new post as Second Deputy Prime Minister.

Also, he congratulated General Alsheikh Saif bin Zaid Al Nahyan, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior of the United Arab Emirates, on his new post as Deputy Premier of the UAE.

Albosaeedi gave a brief account on the achievements accomplished by the GCC interior ministers' consultative meetings and sub-committees as well as the agenda of the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, Prince Naif conveyed to the ministers the greetings and good wishes 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.

He lauded the successes of last week's GCC 11th Consultative Summit under the chairmanship of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

He said the meeting comes amid regional and international changing situations and developments, citing the aggravation of the security situation in neighboring Iraq, an issue, he said, necessitates that neighboring countries of Iraq take positive positions in favor of Iraq’s unity and stability.

Otherwise, the security of the whole region and not only Iraq will be at stake, he added.

He told the meeting that international and regional accelerating incidents, developments and changes also necessitate that "we continue to revise our work and consult with each other within the mechanisms, plans and programs of joint security cooperation among our countries; implement the instructions of our leaders and meet the requirements of our peoples security and stability with the most highest level of performance and effectiveness".

Prince Naif then wished the meeting every success.

On the other hand, Prince Naif has highlighted the important role of women in the service of the society, and said the women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are highly respected.

"She is the mother, daughter, wife, and aunt," he said. Speaking at a meeting organized by Princess Noora bint Abdulrahman University, Prince Naif said 'We, in the Kingdom, do respect the daughters of today and the mothers of the future'.

Prince Naif pointed out that there is no greater message than the message of breeding the new generation, and the woman plays a crucial role as regards enhancing family relations.

"We are sons of a nation of creed, and we adhere to the best legislation and proud of our religion as well as adhere to its teachings. Moreover, we are also proud of our morals, dignity and sovereignty', he said.

"Nevertheless, our country is the only country which was not colonized, and it is the only country which has been depending on Allah Almighty and its potentialities, sons and daughters," Prince Naif said.

The prince noted that King Abdulaziz had unified the country under one banner, and said "We do feel our belonging to all parts and regions of the Kingdom, and we are a united nation with total adherence to our creed".

Meanwhile, Mutlab Al-Nafeesa, the minister of state, member of the cabinet and acting higher education minister, said Prince Naif's patronage of the meeting stands as a witness for the important role of the women.

He pointed out that the directives of the Saudi officials have had a great impact on the march of higher education and preparation of sons and daughters for the service of their religion and country.

On her part, Dr. Al-Johara bint Fahd bin Mohammed, the Rector of Princess Noora University, and congratulated Prince Naif on the occasion of his appointment as the Second Deputy Premier.

Al-Johara said the Kingdom has earned a good reputation at the international arena and at the same time it has been adhering to the deep-rooted values and the teachings of Islam.

Later, Prince Naif received a memorial gift from Dr Al-Johara. The prize was handed over by undersecretary of the university for financial and administrative affairs Dr. Waleed Al-Muhawas.

On the other hand, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Governor of Makkah Region, received separately Justice Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Essa, Mauritanian Consul General Ado Wald Bibanah and Nepalese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Hamid Ansari. During the meetings, cordial talks were exchanged.

Prince Khalid also received a delegation of Mayors of U.S. Cities currently visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The delegation was led by Phil Gordon, Mayor of the City of Phoenix.

The meeting, they discussed issues of common interest.

Prince Khalid also patronized Jeddah on Monday the ceremony of transforming Effat College for Girls into Effat University for Girls.

Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Member of the University's Board of Trustees delivered a speech in which he reviewed the qualities and potentials of Princess Effat (Mercy be upon her soul), on whose name the University was named, expressing his appreciation for the efforts being exerted by Princess Loulwa Al-Faisal in support of various activities of the university; and he wished success for all.

In his speech, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal said "We should review the current Saudi scene and enormous progress in civilization leaps in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

He called for adoption of self-initiatives that keep abreast of the strong support provided by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, and the Crown Prince, for the development of Saudi citizen as a main factor in achieving progress.

Following the Governor's speech, a campaign for raising donations was announced that led to the collection of an amount exceeding SR 46 million for the University's scientific chairs, scholarship fund, and the fund of development, modernization and expansion of the campus.