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February 25, 2005 |
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THE CROWN PRINCE URGES MINISTERS TO EXECUTE THE PROJECTS STATED IN THE BUDGET OF THIS FISCAL YEAR IN TIME. SAUDI ARABIA RECALLS ITS AMBASSADOR TO HUNGRY AND EXTRADITES 19 YEMENIS TO YEMEN. ARAB AND INTERNATIONAL APPRAISAL FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COUNTER-TERRORISM INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz received Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, second son of Queen Elizabeth II, and the accompanying delegation. King Fahd welcomed Prince Andrew and wished him a good visit. Prince Andrew conveyed to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the good wishes of Queen Elizabeth II, and thanked King Fahd for the hospitality stressing the deep relations between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, the second son of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, and the accompanying delegation. During the audience, cordial talks were exchanged. The audience was attended by the British ambassador to the Kingdom. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, chaired the cabinet's weekly session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh. At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the results of consultations and talks held with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan's Premier Shawkat Aziz on bilateral relations and the development of events at the Islamic arena. He also informed the Cabinet of the talks with Malaysia's Premier Dato Serri Abdullah bin Haj Ahmed Badawi which dealt with the preparations for convening the Islamic Summit in Makkah upon the Crown Prince's request. Crown Prince Abdullah also briefed the Cabinet on the contents of messages and contacts exchanged over the previous days with a number of leaders of Arab and friendly countries and their envoys on the development of events in the region and the world and the Kingdom's position towards them. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Iyad Ibn Amin Madani, the Minister of Culture and Information, said that the Crown Prince urged ministers to execute the projects stated in the budget of this fiscal year in time and to benefit from additional projects due to be financed by the budget surplus to achieve the citizens' well-being and prosperity and to enhance the infrastructure and structure of the national economy. Expressing its satisfaction over citizens' interaction with the National Solidarity Counter-terrorism Campaign which resulted in enlightening citizens on the dangers of the scourge of terrorism to peoples and communities, the Cabinet called for continual efforts to combat criminal acts that threaten security and the national unity. Then the Cabinet reviewed the government's great interest in and distinguished care for the heritage and culture through its annual holding of the National Festival for Heritage and Culture in Janadriyyah, the Minister noted. The Cabinet expressed its thanks for the great efforts exerted by the National Guard supported by the Crown Prince in preserving the deep-rooted great heritage and culture of the Kingdom which have been displayed in many cultural and heritage activities during the festival. The Minister of Culture and Information said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions: The Minister of Foreign Affairs or his deputy was authorized to discuss with the Spanish side a draft of a general agreement for cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Kingdom of Spain and sign it before forwarding the final version for further authentication. Upon recommendations of the Minister of Labor, 25 persons were appointed as reserve members of the Committees of First Instance assigned to settle labor disputes. The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency will represent the kingdom as member in the International Organization for Insurance Observers. The Cabinet approved the appointment of Hayza'a Ibn Ali Al Hosaini as Religious Advisor at Makkah Governorate; Dr. Tale'a Ibn Suwailem Al Mitairi as Consultant for Rights Affairs at Riyadh Region Governorate; and Salah Ibn Ahmed Ibn Hamid Sarhan as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz has received an invitation from President Abdul Aziz Boutaflika of Algeria to attend the ordinary 17th Arab summit scheduled for Algeria in March 2005. The message, containing the invitation, was delivered to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques by Algeria's presidential special envoy Abdul Qader bin Salih during an audience with the King at Al-Yamamah palace. The Algerian envoy conveyed to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques the greetings of President Boutaflika. In turn, King Fahd sent his greetings to the president. The audience was attended by a number of princes, ministers and officials. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz received at Al-Yamamah palace Malaysia's Premier Abdullah bin Haj Ahmad Badawi and his accompanying delegation. King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz welcomed the Malaysian senior official in his second country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The premier conveyed to King Fahd the greetings of Malaysia's King Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin. In turn, King Fahd sent his greetings to the king. The premier thanked King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz for the warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to him and his accompanying delegation, appealing to Allah Almighty to preserve the Kingdom and push forward its development march. During the meeting, they discussed the situations and developments at the Islamic and international arenas. Aspects of cooperation between the two countries and ways of their enhancement in all fields were also reviewed. On the Saudi side, the audience was attended by a number of princes, ministers and officials. On the Malaysian side, it was attended by Foreign Minister Syed Hamid bin Syed Al-Bar and other officials. On the other hand following the insulting remarks which described the Arabs and Saudis as terrorists, the Foreign Ministry has recalled the Saudi ambassador to Hungary for consultations, an official source at the Foreign Ministry said. An Official Source at the Interior Ministry said the Saudi security authorities had extradited to the Yemeni security authorities 19 Yemenis, earlier detained for various security issues. "This development comes within the framework of the existing security cooperation between the two brotherly countries." On the other hand Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Al-Sheikh, the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has condemned "ugly acts of terrorism" and said these must be confronted at all levels. On the occasion of the National Solidarity Campaign against terrorism the Grand Mufti in a lecture dealt with the phenomenon of terrorism and the necessity to combat it at all levels. In this context, he cited several verses of the Holy Quran and elaborated on sayings of the Prophet (May Allah Peace Be Upon Him). Sheikh Abdul Aziz mentioned some of the terrorists' crimes such as accusing Muslims and leaders as 'infidels,' calling to fight them, killing non-Muslim expatriates who live here and a lot of their malicious acts. He added that these 'ugly' crimes are in contravention of Islam and that all Muslims should promote cooperation to annihilate terrorism and make youth aware of its dangers. Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Al-Sheikh, the Kingdom's grand mufti, said Islam, which calls for the protection of a man's life, family, wealth, honor and intellect, totally rejects terrorism. "If a person kills a believer, his punishment is hell," the Mufti said, quoting a Quranic verse. He also pointed out that the protection of non-Muslims living in a Muslim country was the responsibility of the country's government. Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Al-Sheikh said terrorists who cause corruption on Earth by carrying out killings and destruction deserve tough punishment as the Holy Quran directs. Meanwhile the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance Sheikh Saleh Al Al-Sheikh attended an exhibition of the Islamic affairs and the Islamic program organized by the Ministry on the occasion of launching the National Solidarity Campaign against terrorism under the title of 'Together Against Terrorism'. Speaking on the occasion, Al Al-Sheikh warned against the menace of terrorism, and said people should remain vigilant. He highlighted the efforts exerted by Ulema (Muslim scholars) to make the campaign successful. On the other hand the Shoura Council held ordinary session under the chairmanship of its Chairman Dr. Salih Ibn Abdullah Ibn Homaid. At the outset of the session, Dr. Ibn Homaid spoke on the Counter-terrorism International Conference which took place in Riyadh, citing Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, as saying in an augural speech that terrorism has no certain civilization, religion or allegiance to a system, but it is a deviant thought and abnormal behaviour. He praised the Crown Prince's proposal to set up an International Center for Combating Terrorism. In a statement following the meeting, Dr. Homood Al Badr, the Secretary General of the Shoura Council, said the Council discussed items on its agenda. In Cairo The Arab Regional Counter-terrorism Symposium organized by Arab justice ministerial council in cooperation with The United Nations Office On Drug Control And Crime (ONODC) concluded its sessions. In a speech delivered at the opening session on behalf of Amr Moussa Secretary General of the Arab League, Ridhwan bin Khadhra, the League's Head of Legal Administration noted the International Counter-terrorism Conference recently concluded in Riyadh and its recommendations which form a firm basis for the enhancement of international cooperation to combat terrorism within a comprehensive strategy. On his part, UN Assistant Secretary General and Executive Director of Counter-terrorism Committee Javier Robbers praised the statement issued by Riyadh Conference on combating terrorism. The Arab Regional Seminar on Combating Terrorism called to continue preparing the draft international agreement on combating terrorism and putting a meaning for this phenomenon with a view to distinguish it from the right to resist occupation. The seminar, which concluded its deliberations at the Arab League's headquarters, called also to prepare an international agreement to prohibit the nuclear terror and establish a Middle East free of nuclear weapons. The seminar, in which delegations from Arab countries took part, concentrated on four axis including; ways of enhancing the international cooperation in the field of combating terror; the national and regional efforts in the field of preventing terror and fighting it; legislations to implement the regional and international agreements on combating terror and the relation between terror and the organized crime. The Forum asserted that terrorism poses a threat to the Arab region and fighting it requires a comprehensive strategy. Among recommendations by the forum for effective fighting of terrorism, both regionally and internationally, was equipping law enforcement apparatuses in the region with the latest methods of detecting and fighting crime. Also the forum agreed to take all measures to prevent terrorists from possessing weapons of mass destruction and to strive to have the Middle East region become free of nuclear weapons. Fighting money-laundering schemes; drying up financial sources of terrorists; and speeding up international channels of communication regarding tracking down criminals were all seen by the forum as part of what should be viable tools in fighting terrorism. Another tool the forum strongly advocated was the establishment of a UN-sponsored Bureau for Fighting organized crime and international terrorism. Overall the forum underlined the necessity that public awareness of the enormity of the problem of terrorism was instrumental in the fight against it. An official source from the Arab League said that the two- day session, organized by the Arab League Secretariat General in cooperation with the UN, focused on a number of issues concerning mechanisms of promoting international cooperation to fight terrorism as well as national and regional efforts in this regard. ''The session aims at promoting Arab and international cooperation to combat terrorism as well as discussing means to enhance security and judicial cooperation between Arab countries,'' the source added. The Arab Regional Counter-terrorism Symposium stressed the importance of Riyadh declaration and considered it a basis for combating terrorism. The Counter-Terrorism International Conference held in Riyadh February 5-8, 2005, issued the 'Riyadh Declaration'. The Riyadh Declaration stresses that no international effort will be capable of effective confrontation with the phenomenon of terrorism unless there is cooperation and a comprehensive strategic perspective to deal with it. Within this framework, the countries and organizations support and adopt the proposal of Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, referred to in his opening address to the Conference, for the establishment of an international center for combating terrorism. A task force has been formed to crystallize this proposal. The communiqué praised the spirit of understanding and cooperation that prevailed during the conference, and the unanimity of vision and stance concerning the danger of the phenomenon of terrorism and the necessity of confronting it by long-term, united, and organized international efforts. These efforts must respect the principles of the United Nations, particularly those regulations governing human rights that enhance its inherent role, in adopting a comprehensive and multilateral approach. The Conference affirmed that terrorism constantly threatens peace, security and stability, and that there is no justification whatsoever for terrorist acts, which are always condemned whatever their circumstances or alleged motives might be. The Declaration emphasized the importance of enhancing the values of understanding, tolerance, dialogue, and multilateralism, becoming acquainted with other peoples, bringing cultures together, rejecting any clash of civilizations, and combating any ideology that calls for hatred, instigates violence, or justifies the terrorist crimes that are denounced by all religions and laws. The Conference affirmed that terrorism has no particular religion, race, nationality or geographical area. In this context, it stressed that any attempt to link terrorism with any religion is helpful only to the terrorists. The countries and organizations participating in the Conference emphasized their commitment to the United Nations resolutions that relate to combating terrorism, calling on the international community to condemn terrorism, combat it by all means available, and confront it in every way in accordance with the United Nations Charter, since terrorist acts threaten international peace and security. The Declaration stressed that the United Nations is the basic platform for the enhancement of international cooperation against terrorism, that the relevant UN Security Council resolutions form a firm and comprehensive basis for combating terrorism internationally, and that all countries should fully comply with these resolutions. It called on all countries to join, ratify and implement the twelve international treaties on combating terrorism. The Declaration called for the promotion of self-effort aimed at expanding political participation, achieving sustainable development, meeting the requirements of the social equilibrium, and activating the role of civil institutions, in order to confront the circumstances that are conducive to the spread of violence and deviant ideas. It emphasized the role of the mass media, civil institutions and educational systems in forging strategies to confront terrorist allegations and encouraging the press to set down guidelines for information and news reports. The Conference demanded that the United Nations develop criteria to facilitate non-profit, charitable and humanitarian organizations in carrying out their roles organizing relief work, and to prevent their exploitation in illegal activities. The Declaration called for cooperation at national, bilateral, and regional level among specializing bodies for in the fight against not only terrorism, but money laundering, trafficking in weapons and explosives, and smuggling drugs, in order to exchange their expertise and experience, including training, and ensure their effectiveness in confronting terrorist links to organized crime. It stressed the need to strengthen international measures aimed at preventing terrorists from possessing weapons of mass destruction, and to support the role of the United Nations in this respect, including full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1540. It called for supporting and assisting countries, upon their request, in the field of combating terrorism particularly in providing equipment and training and building up their capabilities. The countries and organizations participating in the Conference called for the development of legislation and measures to prevent terrorists from exploiting the laws of asylum and immigration in order to obtain a safe haven in certain countries or use the territories of these countries as bases for recruitment or training, or for planning, instigating or launching acts of terrorism against other countries. The Declaration emphasized the importance of spreading virtuous human values and the spirit of tolerance and coexistence, urging the media to refrain from publishing information materials that call for extremism and violence. Dr Mohammed Ibn Ali Kuman, Secretary General of Arab Interior Ministers praised the success of the Counter-Terrorism International Forum held in Riyadh. He lauded its final recommendations and said the most important one was the initiative of Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to set up an international center for counter-terrorism within the framework of the United Nations. The Secretary General of Arab Interior Ministers stressed that the General Secretariat of the Arab Interior Ministers Council will fully co-operate with the center after its establishment. |
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