Prince Naif hails leadership's interest in regional councils

Second Deputy Premier: Crown Prince's health condition is very good

Prince Abdulrahman patronizes ceremony to graduate 59th batch of the naval forces' technical studies institute

Prince Khalid bin Sultan: Typhoon aircraft offer strong support for Saudi air forces

Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister, has reiterated that the health condition of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, is good.

Speaking to reporters after launching the strategic plan of the General Presidency for Commissions for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (CPVPV), Prince Naif said the matter of the return of Crown Prince Sultan to the homeland will be decided by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah who is keen on the return of Crown Prince Sultan after an adequate time, adding that God willing, he will return to the Kingdom after a short time.

On the other hand, Prince Naif said the General Presidency of CPVPV should be developed to match the contemporary time as other organs of the state.

"Any organ which fails to develop will undoubtedly remain backward," he said.

Prince Naif affirmed that the project of the CPVPV strategic plan is a practical one and a positive step in this respect, and said "We hope to see its positive impact".

Prince Naif said the security organs and the CPVPV have been forging coordination and cooperation.

The commission is a complementary body for the security organs and the vice-versa, he said, adding that no problem exists between the commission and the security organs.

Prince Naif denied the reports which said that over-crowding at Al-Bat'ha outlet was due to the failure of the United Arab Emirates to sign the Agreement of the Unified Currency and said it was, in fact, as a result of over-crowding to complete the required procedures pertaining to fingerprinting.

The UAE is a sister state, and difference in opinions is a normal matter, he said, adding that it will not be possible for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, either its Leadership, government or people, to confront any act with a worse act because this is not the Kingdom's pattern or practice.

Commenting on smuggling drugs into the Kingdom, Prince Naif said this has put a great burden on the customs officials and security men because the styles practiced by the smugglers have become complicated.

Prince Naif noted that some information media organs try to exaggerate the mistakes which might have been committed by the CPVPV, affirming that all persons are prone to commit mistakes.

He expressed optimism about the cooperation of the people with the CPVPV and noted that the commission's instructions are primarily aimed at guiding people with a good style.

"I hope the day will come when all families thank the CPVPV for its role in the guidance of their sons," he said. Prince Naif said the people should deal with the CPVPV in a positive manner.

Prince Naif pointed out that there are certain practices which have surface in the Saudi society, and these practices should be fought by the families and parents before these are encountered by the CPVPV.

He attributed these strange practices to ignorance and the impact of the information media and said the situation was further aggravated by the internet.

Commenting on the security cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, he said the security cooperation between the two countries has been proceeding ahead at the best level.

Asked if a time has been fixed for announcing the parties which stand behind terrorism, he said "This is very clear, and the terror organizations are existing".

The Kingdom along with other countries has been calling for international cooperation in fighting terrorism and drying its resources.

He regretted that some information media organs have been opening doors for persons who deal with terrorism or who are themselves terrorists and exploiting these information media organs to spread their deviant ideas.

"The Kingdom will spare no effort in supporting any work that aims at enhancing the pillars of security," he said.

Prince Naif pointed out that terrorism has not been eliminated totally and that those who support terrorism know how to mislead others.

"We have been encountering these people, but it is a pity that we find some people inside our country who extend assistance to terrorists instead of fighting and confronting them.

Moreover, we have been working to reform the youth taking into account the changes and development of the Arab work," he said.

"God willing, we are capable of dealing efficiently, and we have successfully detected several terror acts," he said.

On the trial of those who are involved in terror problems, he said the issue will be settled by the judicial authority and the justice ministry, and after that the issue will be submitted to the King who will issue his directives in this respect.

Meanwhile, Prince Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, patronized here this evening the graduation ceremony of the 22nd batch of King Fahd Naval College.

Among the graduates were students from the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The event was also attended by a number of princes and senior military officers and civil officials.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for Military Affairs, patronized the delivery ceremony of the first two of a total of 72 "Typhoon" aircraft of the Royal Saudi Air Force.

The inauguration ceremony has taken place at the headquarters of the British Aerospace Company in the British city of Wharton.

Upon arrival at the venue, Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz was received by Bill Rammell, Minister of the British Armed Forces, and a number of high-ranking military and civil Saudi and British officials.

On the occasion, Rammell delivered a speech in which he emphasized that the delivery of the first group of "Euro fighter Typhoon" aircraft is an important step in achieving the most important points of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries' air forces.

Then, Prince Khalid bin Sultan said that the purchase of 72 fighters to enhance the strength of the Saudi Royal Forces is due to the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General.

Prince Khalid also stressed that these Saudi fighters are not to threaten anyone but to protect and secure the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the coming decades.

Prince Khalid has pointed out that "Typhoon Aircraft" have been one fruit of Al-Salam Project directed by 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, to take the best products of world equipment and modern technologies including aircraft.

In a press statement following his patronization of inauguration of the first two Typhoon aircraft belonging to Saudi Royal Air Forces at the headquarters of British Aerospace Company in the city of Wharton within the agreement of Al-Salam Project signed between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, Prince Khalid bin Sultan said that the Project stresses the strong relationship between the two friendly countries.

The Prince noted that Saudi Arabia is the first country that possesses Typhoon aircraft after the manufacturing countries, pointing out that Al-Salam Project will provide Saudi Royal Air Forces with 72 Typhoon aircraft, of which 48 aircraft will arrive in Saudi Arabia within weeks and will be assembled in several places of Saudi Arabia in cooperation between the companies of Economic Offset Program and the private sector.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan emphasized that assembling this number of aircraft in Saudi Arabia has not taken place in any other state, indicating that the transfer of technology will be done at institutes and factories in Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the private sector in the field of manufacturing.

With regard to job opportunities offered by the project, he said that Saudi youth will have the priority in vacant posts, which will be announced by the Project, pointing out that BAE Systems Company employs approximately 5000 employees, more than half of them are Saudis.

He noted that this achievement today has been the result of the support provided for air, sea and land forces by the government to raise their combating capabilities.

Concluding his statement, Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz expressed his congratulations on this achievement to the King, the Crown Prince, the Second Deputy Premier, and Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General.

In a similar press statement, Prince Lieutenant General Abdulrahman bin Fahd Al-Faisal, the Commander of Saudi Royal Air Forces considered this project as a building block to be added to Saudi Air Forces systems in particular and the armed forces in general, noting that Typhoon aircraft are considered from the modern fourth-generation aircraft.

On training programs associated with this project, he said that since the signing of the contract, a number of air officers, engineers and technical personnel have been sent and have been qualified on the latest equipment by specialists at British Royal Air Forces to be ready for operating such aircraft upon their arrival at air bases in Saudi Arabia within weeks, noting that programs and plans for ongoing training wait for them to keep abreast of modern technology for personnel working on these aircraft.

The Commander of Saudi Royal Air Forces expressed his thanks to and appreciation of the King, the Crown Prince, the Second Deputy Premier and Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for their great support for the Air Forces and for providing them with this type of aircraft.

He also expressed his thanks to Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for Military Affairs, for his patronage, support and attention paid to the Air Forces.