Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques says expresses Saudi people’s belief in their religion, homeland

Regional, int’l praise continues over King Abdullah initiative to achieve Arab reconciliation in Kuwait summit

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques receives two telephone calls from Obama, Clinton; discussions tackle regional affairs

MWL hails Saudi role to help Gaza

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques received at the Royal Court at Al Yamamah Palace princes, Royal Court officials, and Royal Guard Commanders.

The King also received a group of citizens who came to greet him on his arrival to the Kingdom.

He also received a delegation of Al Mashiab Balqarn tribe led by Sheikh Awad Al Qarni who came to greet him.

The King addressed the delegation saying: "Allah bless you. Thank you. This is what's expected of you and all the people of Saudi Arabia. My brothers, I only speak on behalf of the Saudi People, men and women, because I know how they feel toward their religion and country and how they speak in a way that raises their status with Allah and the people"

He also received the Al Dayel family who thanked him for offering condolences on the death of Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Dayel.

Addressing the delegation, the King said: "He was a man of the kingdom who served his religion and country. Our hope is that you all, old and young, follow in his footsteps".

Moreover, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques also received a delegation of Al Farm tribe led by Sheikh Naif bin Abdulmohsen Al Farm who came to thank him for his intercession on behalf of their convicted son.

The receptions were attended by Prince Misha'al bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of Allegiance-Pledge Commission, Prince Fahd bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz, Prince Khalid Al Faisal, Governor of Makkah Region, Prince Sa'ad bin Abdullah bin Turkey, Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for Military Affairs, Prince Mutib bin Thunayyan bin Mohammed, Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Asir Region, Prince Turkey bin Fahd bin Jalawy, Prince Misha'al bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Musa'id, Prince Mansour bin Nassir bin Abdulaziz, Prince Bandar bin Salman bin Mohammed and a number of officials.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received at Yamamah Palace Philippine Parliament Speaker Prospero Nograles and the accompanying delegation.

During the audience, issues of common interest were discussed.

The audience was attended by Prince Misha'al bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of Allegiance-Pledge Commission; 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, Chairman of Shoura Council; Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri, Adviser to the King; Mohammed Amin Mohammed Wali, Saudi Ambassador to the Philippines; and Antonio Velamur, Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz received at the Royal Court at Al Yamamah Palace former Lebanese minister Talal Mar'abi.

The reception was attended by Prince Misha'al bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Chairman of Allegiance-Pledge Commission, Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence, Prince Mansour bin Nassir bin Abdulaziz, Prince Bandar bin Salman bin Mohammed and a number of officials.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received a telephone call from U.S. President Barack Obama.

During the conversation, developments of incidents in the Middle East, situations at the regional and international levels and issues of mutual concern to the two countries were discussed.

They also reviewed the firm and distinguished relations binding the two countries and ways of enhancing them in all fields in a way that serves the interests of the two friendly countries and peoples.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received a telephone call from President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen.

During the conversation, they reviewed the bilateral relations between the two sisterly countries and discussed the Arab and international situations and current developments in the region.

Sheikh Sabah Alahmad Aljabir Alsabah, the Emir of Kuwait, expressed thanks and appreciation for the great stand by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz concerning Arab reconciliation and for his generous contribution to the reconstruction of Gaza.

During a meeting of the Kuwaiti Cabinet, Sheikh Sabah hailed the efforts by the king and Egyptian President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak to stop Israel's aggression on Gaza.

The Lebanese Premier Fouad Al-Saniora lauded the speech delivered by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in the opening session of the recently-concluded Economic, Development and Social Arab Summit in Kuwait, describing its constructive ideas as a basic major step in Arab joint action.

In a statement, Al-Saniora said that most significant in this summit, is Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' focus on renouncing our differences and calling upon Arabs to take the initiative and to basically block the way before any interference in the region which is useful to Arabs and all countries of the region as well.

“We believe that when Arabs agree, they can achieve their goals and serve their cause; and when they disagree, the outcome will be detrimental consequences" he added.

On the other hand, he viewed that the peace Arab initiative is of extreme importance and that obstacles to the peace process in the region are caused by Israeli obstinacy.

Palestinian Ambassador to Lebanon Abbas Zaki, lauded the speech delivered by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the Arab Economic Summit concluded in Kuwait.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Zaki stressed that the call of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to unite the Arab rank is a new evidence of the leading role of the Saudi Monarch in uniting the Arab voice. It is a continued and renewed role which reflects the wise vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques as he is the long-standing "Big Brother", who is capable to overcome the trivial things for the higher national interests of Arab peoples, he added.

A number of Lebanese representatives hailed the Arab reconciliation initiative by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz in Kuwait Summit.

In statements by representatives Ammar Hori, Rober Ghanim and Samir Aljisr, the king's initiative for Arab reconciliation was praised as necessary and inevitable, putting an end to the state of Arab weakness.

UN's Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has highlighted the efforts exerted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz for closing the Arab and Palestinian ranks.

Addressing the security council following a four-day tour of the middle east, he said 'I have said plainly that the United Nations will work along with the united Palestinian government, and in Kuwait I appealed to the Arab world to unite for realizing this purpose, and I was briefed on the efforts of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz in this respect'.

Ban Ki-Moon noted that the Arab-Israeli dispute will be settled when a broad political settlement is attained between the Arab countries and Israel.

He added that 'to realize that goal the Arab initiative launched in 2002 will remain the base for this settlement'.

The ideal settlement for ending violence will be through a just and comprehensive settlement for the Arab-Israeli dispute, and that requires the implementation of the resolutions of the Security Council and the Arab peace initiative, he said.

The U.N. chief was in Gaza and said he was “deeply affected” by what he saw there. He reiterated his call for an investigation into violations of international humanitarian law and said in his meetings with Israeli leaders that he “insisted” on the importance of “immediate and increased” access to Gaza.

In line with the directives of Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior and Supervisor General of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Relief Campaign for Palestinian People in Gaza, the campaign signed a cooperation agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) currently working in Gaza.

The agreement was signed by UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen Abu Zaid and Dr. Sa'id Al Orabi Al Harthi, advisor to Prince Naif, and Head of the campaign.

According to Dr. Al Harthi, the relief campaign will provide necessary funding for development projects and other relief programs in the Strip which will be carried out by UNRWA at an estimated cost of SR 24, 375, 000 million.

Al Harthi said that, "The agreement is a continuation of the cooperation between the campaign and UNWRA which will provide all basic services for needy Palestinian families".

Then, a speech was delivered by UNRWA Commissioner-General in which she expressed her appreciation for the kingdom's role in providing all needed services for the Palestinian people.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Relief Campaign for Palestinian People in Gaza has received up to SR 222. 102, 403 million.

In addition, the campaign also has launched an aid lifeline consisting of more than 70 trucks carrying more than 770 tons of basic needs.

The campaign also works in cooperation with other international organizations such as the World Food Program to ensure the timely delivery of aids to Gaza residents.

The donation campaign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for the relief of the Palestinians amounted up to Monday, January 26, 2009, SR 224,450,838.

Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL) has lauded the efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as regards the bloody events in Gaza.

MWL's secretary general Dr Abdullah al-Turki said it is the duty of the Muslims in the world to support the Arab and Muslim efforts which aim at the reconstruction of Gaza as well as the efforts of the Arab League which aim at holding Israeli responsible of the crimes it perpetrated against the innocent unarmed civilians.

Dr al-Turki welcomed the idea of formation of an Arab-international legal committee to shoulder this responsibility and said the MWL is ready to cooperate with the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in this respect.

Dr al-Turki pointed out that the MWL and its centers and institutions notably the International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO) have been following up the humanitarian relief activities for extending urgent assistance to the citizens of Gaza.