|
|
April 1, 2005 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|||||
TWO AGREEMENTS BETWEEN SAUDI ARABIA AND SUDAN IN THE FIELD OF SECURITY COOPERATION AND DRUG SMUGGLING. TALKS ON MUTUAL COOPERATION BETWEEN PRINCE NAIF AND THE IRANIAN MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR. PRINCE NAIF IBN ABDUL AZIZ: WE HAVE FOILED MANY TERRORIST ATTEMPTS. THE SAUDI MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR: TERRORISTS, WHO HAVE DEFAMED ISLAM AND MUSLIMS BY THEIR EVIL DEEDS, ARE ACTUALLY WORKING AS AGENTS FOR FOREIGN PARTIES. President Omer Hassan Al Bashir of the Sudan received at the Presidential Palace in Khartoum Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Minister of Interior. During the meeting, talks on issued of concern to the two countries were discussed. On the Saudi side, the meeting was attended by princes, and on the Sudanese side, it was attended by senior officials and a number of officials. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister, has highlighted the existing distinguished Saudi-Sudanese relations. Prince Naif, who arrived in Khartoum, said Sudan has a special place in the heart of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, and Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General. 'The Sudanese who reside in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have earned a good reputation', Prince Naif added. He noted that he will review with his Sudanese Counterpart Major-General Eng. Abdel-Rahim Mohammed Hussein issues of mutual interest. On the phenomenon of terrorism, Prince Naif said intensive efforts should be exerted at the Arab and Islamic arenas for uprooting this dangerous phenomenon. He pointed out that the Arab Interior Ministers in cooperation with the Arab Justice Ministers formulated an agreement for combating terrorism in 1998. Prince Naif urged the Arab media to play its assumed role in fighting terrorism, and said 'without the required role of the media in this respect, the ordinary people will never get acquainted with the dimensions of the agreement of combating terrorism'. Underlining the importance of coordination for fighting terrorism, Prince Naif said the security organs can never work alone in this respect. On the conference on combating terrorism, recently held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Naif said the conference, attended by representatives of more than 50 countries, had yielded positive results, and added 'the recommendations adopted by the conference should be carried out'. Citing the decisions taken by the conference, Prince Naif said they included the proposal of Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz for establishing a terrorism combating center. Prince Naif urged Muslim scholars, sociologists and psychologists to work together for combating terrorism. 'Terrorists, who have defamed Islam and Muslims by their evil deeds, are actually working as agents for foreign parties', he said. On his part, Sudanese Minister of Interior Major General Eng. Abdel-Rahim Mohammed Hussein underscored the importance of the visit of Prince Naif to the Sudan, and said it embodies the existing fraternal relations between the Kingdom and the Sudan. Hussein lauded the significant role being played by Prince Naif at the Council of the Arab Interior Ministers. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior, for Khartoum upon the invitation from his Sudanese counterpart Major General Abdul Raheem Mohammed Hussein. Prince Naif was accompanied by a number of princes and senior officials of the Ministry of Interior. He was seen off at Riyadh air base by a number of princes and officials as well as Sudan embassy's senior diplomats. In a departure statement, Prince Naif said the visit comes at the invitation of his Sudanese counterpart, noting that a number of agreements between the two counties, including cooperation in the field of combating terrorism, will be signed during the visit. He described cooperation between the two counties in the field of combating terrorism as excellent. He denied reports that he will present a Saudi mediation overture to the Sudanese authorities to settle the crisis in Darfur. Replying questions from reporters at the airport, Prince Naif said cooperation with Yemeni government on the issue of extradition of a number of wanted Saudis is proceeding as scheduled without delay. He noted that the Saudi authorities treat the ideological and religious views as important to the fight against terrorism as the punitive and security measures. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior and accompanying delegation arrived in Khartoum for a visit to the Sudan at the invitation of the Sudanese Minister of Interior General Eng. Abdul Raheem Mohammad Hussain. At the airport, he was received by General Eng. Abdul Raheem Mohammad Hussain, ministers and a number of officials. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Sudan's Interior Minister Major General Eng. Abdul Raheem Mohammed Hussain held a session of talks. During the session, they exchanged cordial talks and discussed topics of mutual interest. Addressing the meeting, Prince Naif pointed out that his visit aims at discussing security affairs and matters of concern to the two countries, the Arab world and all the world. He noted that contacts, talks and cooperation have been existed and we are formulating agreements to organize cooperation between the two countries. He praised the Sudanese community working in the Kingdom for its sincerity, high morality and dedication to work. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz stressed that the agreements are for the interest and security of the two countries. He said that Islam is a religion of peace, which respects a human being and life, adding that we are committed to correctly educating our youth their sound religion. On his part, the Sudanese minister praised the existing distinguished and firm relations between the two countries. Prince Naif was accompanied by princes and the official delegation. Sudan and Saudi Arabia signed two agreements on fighting terrorism and drug smuggling in addition to strengthening bilateral cooperation in security matters. Saudi Interior Minister Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, and his Sudanese counterpart, Gen. Abdul Rahim Hussein, signed the agreements. "Extremism and terrorism spread at alarming rates in the world and this led enemies of Islam to exploit the situation and work to defame Islam. Saudi Arabia has confronted terrorism with strength and resolve to uproot the menace. Security forces in the Kingdom foiled many dangerous terrorist operations," Prince Naif said after signing the agreements. The Kingdom has witnessed a series of deadly attacks over the past two years that mostly targeted foreigners. Prince Naif added that confronting terrorism requires an intellectual offensive against fanaticism and fundamentalism. Winning the war against terrorism would require more than military confrontation with militants, he said. The Sudanese minister said his country and Saudi Arabia "stand in one trench" in fighting terrorism. Asked what role the Kingdom could play in resolving the conflict in Sudan's western province of Darfur, Prince Naif said: "Sudan is capable of solving its problems." Prince Naif was awarded an honorary doctorate in security studies by Al-Rabat Al-Watani University which is run by the Sudanese Ministry of the Interior, in appreciation of his efforts toward promoting security and stability in the Arab and Islamic world. A number of Sudanese and Saudi officials attended the event. He thanked the university for bestowing such honor on him and said the Kingdom respected and appreciated the historic relations between the two countries and their peoples. He described his three-day visit to Khartoum as successful, saying it had achieved its goals. Prince Naif arrived in Khartoum and was received by the Sudanese First Vice President, Ali Othman Muhammad Taha. Prince Naif arrived in Khartoum, a day after the chief of the Sudanese intelligence spoke about the presence of Saudi extremists who had intruded into Sudanese territories. Prince Naif began his Khartoum talks with a meeting with Ali Othman Muhammad Taha, first vice president. Speaking to reporters, Prince Naif said his talks with Hussein focused on security issues. He said the two accords, would set the framework for security cooperation between the two Arab countries. He emphasized the strong relations between Saudi Arabia and Sudan and commended the high morals, sincerity and trustworthiness of Sudanese expatriate workers in the Kingdom. Prince Naif lambasted extremists saying they have nothing to do with Islam. "They are using Islam as a means and we would like to tell the world that Islam is a religion of peace and it respects human beings and life and whatever that is good for people." Prince Naif said Saudi Arabia was not mediating to settle the Darfur crisis. He also said that Saudi security forces were looking for wanted criminals who are not listed on the 26 most wanted terrorists. The interior minister also disclosed that the trial of suspects involved in terrorist operations as well as individuals who issued edicts encouraging terrorist actions would take place at the right time. On his part, Hussein said his country wanted to strengthen its relations with Saudi Arabia not only in security but also in political and economic fields and welcomed Saudi investments in Sudan. He hoped that Prince Naif's visit would boost Saudi-Sudanese ties and open the door for investments. As per the security accord, the two countries would abstain from giving refuge to criminals or supporting them with money and weapons or training them on carrying out terrorist and subversive activities or providing them with any facilities, and would prevent antagonistic activities against either government. The agreement also stipulates cooperation in combating crimes and the two countries must take measures to implement all bilateral accords on tracing crimes and their perpetrators and extraditing them. They will also exchange information related to crimes and help in arresting suspected criminals wanted in either state. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Interior Minister, met with Saudi students who are pursuing their academic studies in Sudanese universities. Prince Naif urged them to take care of their studies to benefit the country and set up a good example before others. On their part, the Saudi students thanked Prince Naif for his noble feelings and condemned the acts of the deviant group. Sudanese President Lt. Gen Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir hosted a banquet in honour of Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz and his accompanying delegation. Meanwhile, President al-Bashir bestowed on Prince Naif the republic award of the first order. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Prince Naif warned against sheltering illegal residents. He recalled the religious edict of The Permanent Committee of Researches and Ifta in which it said that it is forbidden to violate the rules of the country and the orders of the leader which forbid harboring, transporting and recruiting illegal residents. Minister of Interior Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz and his accompanying delegation returned home on conclusion of a visit to Sudan. At Riyadh Air Base, he was received by Prince Ahmed Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Interior Minister, and a number of princes and senior officials. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister received Iran's Interior Minister Abdul Wahid Musawi Lari. During the meeting, they exchanged cordial talks and reviewed aspects of cooperation between the two countries. The meeting was attended by Prince Ahmed Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Interior Minister, Prince Mohammed Ibn Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs, a number of officials and Iran's Ambassador to the Kingdom Hussein Sadiqi. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister held a dinner party in honor of Iran's Interior Minister Abdul Wahid Musawi Lari and his accompanying delegation. The party was attended by Prince Ahmed Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Interior Minister; Prince Mohammed Ibnn Saad Ibn Abdul Aziz, Advisor to Prince Naif; Prince Mohammed Ibn Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs; other princes; a number of officials and Iran's Ambassador to the Kingdom Hussein Sadiqi. Iran's Interior Minister Abdul Wahid Musawi Lari arrived in Riyadh coming from Jeddah. The minister is on a private visit to the Kingdom to perform Umrah and visit Madinah. At Riyadh airbase, he was received by Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior and a number of officials. In a joint press statement, Prince Naif noted the security cooperation between the two countries. Under the circumstances in the region and the world, the latest developments will be reviewed now and then, Prince Naif added. On his part, the Iranian minister described relations between the two countries as very strong and highlighted in this regard the agreement on bilateral security cooperation. Iran's Interior Minister Abdul Wahid Musawi Lari left the Kingdom. At the interior ministry, he was seen off by Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior and Prince Ahmad Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Interior Minister. At Riyadh airbase, he was seen off by Prince Mohammed Ibn Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs, other officials and Iran's Ambassador to the Kingdom Hussein Sadiqi. |
|||||
