February 3, 2006

THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES IS THE CHIEF GUEST AT INDIA'S 57TH REPUBLIC DAY. THE KING URGES INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO BUILD ON THEIR ONGOING PEACE INITIATIVES TO REINFORCE PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION. INDIA LAUDS THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES' INITIATIVE TO SET UP AN INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR COMBATING TERRORISM. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz participated as the honorable guest of the biggest Indian festivities held at Rajghat in New Delhi on the occasion of India's 57th Republic Day. On arrival at the Republic palace, King Abdullah was greeted by Indian President Abu Bakr Zein-al-Abideen Abul-Kalam, who accompanied the King in an official escort accompanied by a cavalry unit to the venue of the festivities. On arrival at the venue, they were received by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defense Minister Parnab Mukherjee and high-ranking Indian armed forces officials. Following the playing of National anthem, a military parade started, displaying varied Indian weaponry, different formations of the armed forces, border security forces, police and the national cadets corps (NCC), folklore groups from Indian states, cultural troupes and motor-bike riders group. Another glaring feature of the festivities was an air show. On conclusion of the festivities, the King and the President left the venue in an official escort. They were seen off by the Indian Prime Minister and senior officials. The festivities were also attended by the King's accompanying delegation and high-ranking Indian officials. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz attended a reception party held by the Indian President Abu Bakr Zein-al-Abideen Abul-Kalam at the garden of the presidential palace in New Delhi today to mark the occasion of India's Day of the Republic. During the function, the king also shook hands with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; India's former presidents and prime ministers, government ministers; senior dignitaries; Indian Islamic dignitaries and leaders; senior invitees and diplomatic corps accredited to India. They expressed pleasure of meeting the king and pride of his participation in the celebrations to mark the Day of the Republic of India, confirming that the visit will contribute to enhancing the bilateral relations between the two countries. King Abdullah and the Indian President then held a round of talks in continuation of the discussion of the topics raised during meetings of King Abdullah with Indian officials. The reception and the meeting were attended by the King's official accompanying delegation and a number of Indian officials. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz was enthralled by the annual event that showcased the country's military might and cultural diversity in an 85-minute extravaganza. Huge crowds gathered in the bright sunshine along Rajpath, the capital's central vista, to watch the marvelous parade, a heady mix of military spectacle, folk oomph, and the splendor of the unique lifestyle of India's different regions, ethnic groups and traditional people. King Abdullah, who was accorded the signal honor of being the chief guest at the parade, sat beside President A.P.J. Abul Kalam who took the salute and explained the finer points of the defense equipment displayed at the event. The two leaders were flanked by Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the marching contingents made their way from Rajpath, near the presidential palace, to the 17th-century Red Fort in the old quarters about 15 km away. The parade, which began in 1950 to commemorate India's emergence as a republic, received its first makeover last year and its organizer, the Defense Ministry, tightened it from the original two hours to 85 minutes to overcome what many had termed viewer fatigue. The country's hi-tech military might was represented by the nuclear capable Agni-I and Agni-II missiles, the home grown Arjun tanks, 155mm howitzers, indigenously developed armored vehicles equipped with mortars and the ANTPQ-37 weapon-locating radars acquired from the United States. Saudi journalists accompanying the king were seated near the place where members of the official Saudi delegation were seated. Hundreds of invited guests from all over the world were also present to watch one of the world's most spectacular parades. King Abdullah, the first Saudi Monarch to visit India in 50 years, arrived in India at the head of a 250-member delegation. He held wide-ranging talks with President Abul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The talks focused on strengthening cooperation in energy, expanding trade exchange and fighting terrorism. The premier lauded the king's initiative to set up an international centre for fighting terrorism. Addressing a dinner banquet given in his honor by the president, King Abdullah said his visit would help strengthen relations between India and Saudi Arabia, home to more than 1.5 million Indian expatriate workers. "These relations would improve with the increase of trade exchange and mutual investments and with our strong cooperation in the energy sector," the king said, assuring India that Saudi Arabia would meet the South Asian country's growing energy needs. "India's economic renaissance has won the admiration of the whole world and we have the pleasure to become one of India's leading trade partners," Abdullah told the gathering that included top officials from both countries. He said Saudi Arabia was happy to host Indian workers, who have been making immense contributions to the Kingdom's development and prosperity. A staunch advocate of peace, the king urged India and Pakistan to build on their ongoing peace initiatives to reinforce peace and stability in the region. "Stability requires peace and security while wars cause total destruction," he reminded the nuclear-armed neighbours. "We hope that the current negotiations between India and Pakistan would lead to solving all their outstanding issues and end their conflicts," the Saudi Press Agency quoted the king as saying. He urged New Delhi to continue its historic support for the Palestinian cause. He invited both Abdul Kalam and Manmohan Singh to visit Saudi Arabia. In his address, President Abul Kalam thanked the king for selecting India as one of the first countries to visit after ascending the throne in August 2005. Abdullah began his four-nation Asian tour in China where he met with President Hu Jintao and witnessed the signing of four bilateral accords. He will also visit Malaysia and Pakistan during this tour. Abul Kalam emphasized Saudi Arabia's political, strategic and economic position at the world stage. He reiterated India's readiness to cooperate with Saudi Arabia in the fight against their common enemy, terrorism. He appreciated Saudi Arabia's efforts to host a counterterrorism international conference in Riyadh and its proposal to establish an anti-terror center. Abul Kalam called for a strategic relation between the two countries in the energy sector and a long-term partnership through joint projects in gas and energy in both Saudi Arabia and India. "We welcome Saudi investments and look for a new era of cooperation," the president said. He said Saudi Arabia and India had similar views on many issues including Palestine and Iraq and on the need of maintaining peace and security in the Gulf region. Speaking to India's NDTV channel, Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi, who is part of the Saudi delegation, said he expected the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to maintain current output levels at its upcoming meeting. He also said that Saudi Arabia could increase supply in the last quarter of 2006 if demand warrants. He said there would be no change at the Jan. 31 OPEC meeting in Vienna. "Unless the market changes significantly between now and the meeting, there is probably no real reason to do anything different," he said. The minister said demand for oil may go up in the last quarter of 2006 but was unlikely to increase before that. "Should demand require more, we have the capacity to deliver up to 11 million barrels a day but I don't see that happening because I don't see customers asking for additional crude. But in the fourth quarter of 2006, additional demand might be possible." Al-Naimi said his country would increase production gradually by one-and-a-half million barrels per day over the next four years. "We are gradually moving our production capacity from 11 to twelve-and-a-half (million barrels per day) by 2009." Arab News, meanwhile, learned that an Indian company had invited Saudi Aramco to invest in the energy sector. Al-Naimi held talks last night with officials of Reliance company on prospects of investing in a $8 billion refinery and petrochemical project in Saudi Arabia. Al-Naimi had earlier received offers from India to invest in three refineries: Bhatinda, Bina and Paradip. Two other Indian refineries to have Saudi investments are Kakinada and Barmer. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz had a look at the replica of the new building of the Saudi embassy and consulate in India and the annexed housing complex. Briefing the monarch on the complex, which includes a 100-worshipper mosque, personnel housing lot and a parking, the designer said the complex will be built on an area of 17000 sq. m. at the Diplomatic Quarter in New Delhi. The briefing was attended by King Abdullah's accompanying delegation.