May 5, 2006

IN BRIEF ***** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz issued a royal decree on reducing petrol prices for consumers in the Kingdom to improve the standards of citizens' living. The reduction will be as follows: 1- 60 halalas per petrol liter instead of 90 halalas including due charges till 10/12/1427H. 2- 60 halalas per /Octane 91/ petrol liter instead of 82 halalas 3- 75 halalas per /octane 95/ petrol liter instead of SR 1 including due charges as of 11/12/1427H 4- 25 halalas per diesel liter instead of 37 halalas The new amendments were effective from Monday 1st, May. ********** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulations to the Queen of the Netherlands Beatrix on the occasion of her country's national day. The monarch wished the queen continual good health and happiness and her people steady progress and prosperity. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister And Inspector General, has sent a cable of congratulations to the Queen of the Netherlands Beatrix on the occasion of her country's national day. The Crown Prince wished her continuous health and happiness and her people steady progress and prosperity. ********** Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received the Director General Of Unesco Koshiro Matsoura. During the audience, which was attended by a number of princes and officials, cordial talks were exchanged. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received the Secretary General Of Gulf Cooperation Council Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah. During the audience, which was attended by a number of princes and officials, cordial talks were exchanged. King Abdullah has also has sent a cable of congratulations to Iraq's President Jalal Talbani on the occasion of his election as president for a second term. The King wished the president continual good health and happiness and wished him success in achieving the aspirations of security, stability and prosperity for the Iraqi brotherly people. ********** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulations to the President of Sierra Leone Ahmad Tejan Kabbah on the occasion of his country's national day. In his own name and on behalf of the Saudi government and people, the Monarch wished the President continual good health and happiness and his people steady progress and prosperity. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulations to President Of Togo Faure Gnassingbe on the occasion of his country's national day. In his own name and on behalf of the Saudi government and people, the Monarch wished the President continual good health and happiness and his people steady progress and prosperity. ********** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud has approved a plan of the Ministry of Social Affairs to set up 16,000 units for popular housing at a cost of SR 2.4 billion for the current fiscal year as a first stage in the Kingdom's 13 regions. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, the Minister of Social Affairs Abdul Mohsin Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Akkas said that a sum of SR 10 billion of the general surplus of the state's budget has been appropriated for the projects of popular housing consisting of 64,000 units over the next four years. ********** Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation, Inspector General announced a donation of SR One million to the Riyadh-based Saudi Charity Society for Combating Cancer. Chairman of Board of Directors of the society Abdullah bin Sulaiman Al-Omar highlighted the unlimited support of Crown Prince Sultan, who is also the Supreme President of Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Charity Foundation, stressing that he is the main supporter of the society. It is worth mentioning that the society helped more than 1,650 cancer patients in Riyadh in the year 1426 A.H. ********** Minister of Interior Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz received the Director General of UNESCO Katchiro Matsoura. During the meeting, issues of common interest were discussed. ********** Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of the Interior received at his office members of the board of directors of the National Charitable society for the retired under the chairmanship of Dr Abdul Rahman Al Ansari who expressed their thanks to Prince Naif for his support in setting up the society. Prince Naif also received members of the Saudi-Syrian Parliamentary society under the chairmanship of Sheikh Mohammed Al Moslat. During the meeting they reviewed issues of mutual interests. ********** Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of the Interior expressed his thanks and gratitude to the Secretary General of the International Organization for Civil Defence Nawaf Al Salibi for their appreciation of the Saudi efforts in the service of pilgrims. The Minister of the Interior stressed in a cable in response to the Secretary General that the work of the Saudi Ministry of the Interior emanates from the efforts of the Kingdom under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his Crown Prince to provide all services to the guests of God. ********** Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Governor of Riyadh region has received in his office the 7th meeting of the board of directors of the Charitable Society for the care of Orphans in Riyadh, "Insan". The meeting was attended by Prince Sattam Ibn Abdul Aziz Deputy Chairman of the society. At the meeting they reviewed the final budget and its performance in 1426 H. The number of beneficiaries rose to 17,000. ********** Prince Khaled Al-Faisal confirmed that 3rd Arab Thought Foundation's Forum for Education entitled: "Education and Permanent Development in The Arab World" held in Beirut has proved that there those who accord great importance to current Arab problems. He thanked The OPEC Fund for International Development for granting US$100,000 in support of the 3rd Arab Conference for Education and Learning. Sponsored by the Arab Thought Foundation (ATF), the theme of the conference was Education and Sustainable Development. The event was held in on April 24-26, 2006. The conference program covered a wide array of topics relating to the effect education has on sustainable development, and reviewed educational policies and programs, human resource requirements, job market situations and other related factors. Around 500 people attended the conference, including Arab countries' Ministers of Education, Planning and Finance, heads of international and Arab development organizations and high calibre Arab personalities, experts and educators. In addition to extending financial assistance, the OPEC Fund participated at the conference to demonstrate its experience, contribution and support to the development and education in the Arab region as part of its assistance to the developing world. ********** Prince Khalid Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General for Military Affairs received a Syrian military delegation, led by Major General Ahmad Hassan Abdel-Hadi. They reviewed issues of mutual interest. Major General Ahmad Hassan Abdel-Hadi delivered the shield of the Syrian armed forces to Prince Khalid Ibn Sultan. ********** The official spokesman of the Ministry of the Interior said that according to the security agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen the Kingdom was handed over 16 Saudis wanted in relations with different security cases while 11 Yemenis were handed over to Yemen for breach of laws in the Kingdom. ********** A Saudi cargo plane, laden with 79 tons of relief materials, arrived in Tehran to alleviate the sufferings of people in the quake-hit Lorstan in the western region of Iran. The plane was received by Saudi Ambassador to Iran Osamah Ibn Ahmed Al-Sanoosi and senior Iranian officials. In a statement to the Saudi press agency, the ambassador said the assistance was sent to Iran under the orders of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to help relieve the affected. He expressed sympathy for the families of the victims and the injured. On his part, Abbas Al-Jazaery, Chief of the natural disasters department at the Iranian Ministry of Interior, thanked, on behalf of the government and people of the Islamic republic of Iran the government and people of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this humanitarian gesture, lauding the firm Saudi Iranian relations. ********** Sultan Qaboos has sent a cable of greetings to Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands on the occasion of her birthday. The Sultan expressed his sincere greetings and best wishes of good health and happiness to the Queen and the Dutch people further progress and prosperity. ********** Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received a cable of thanks from President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt in response to Sultan Qaboos' cable of condolences expressing deep sympathy for the victims of the explosions which occurred in Egypt recently. ********** Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, received here yesterday Abdullah Ali al Ridha, the Yemeni Ambassador to the Sultanate, who delivered a written message to Sayyid Fahd from Abdul Qadir Abdul Rahman Bajamal, the Yemeni Prime Minister, dealing with enhancing horizons of bilateral co-operation. Besides discussing bilateral relations and ways of strengthening them, they reviewed Arab and global issues and developments and matters of common concern. The ambassador expressed the appreciation of the Yemeni leadership for the policy pursued by the Sultanate regionally and internationally and its positive role on regional issues thanks to the farsighted vision and the wise leadership of Sultan Qaboos. ********** Personal Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Lebanon, Geir Pedersen stressed on implementing UN resolution 1559 through the Lebanese national dialogue. The UN official said in a statement to the press after meeting with Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, they discussed the situation in southern Lebanon and outcome of Prime minister Fouad Siniora's visit to the US. "The visit was very successful", Salloukh's answer to Pedersen's question on Siniora's visit, pointing out that discussions evolved around the national dialogue. Pedersen added that "executing (UN resolution) 1559 through dialogue is a must" and in accordance with Annan's report. Resolution 1559 issued in September 2004, stipulates on having democratic presidential elections in Lebanon and the disarming of Lebanese and non-Lebanese militants. ********** Sweden has decided to withdraw from an international air force exercise to be held in Italy next month after learning that units from the Israeli air force will participate, a Swedish government spokesman said. Sweden had originally agreed to send eight jet fighters to the Volcanex 2006 exercise in Italy between May 8-26. Foreign Ministry spokesman Christian Karlsson said the aim of the drill was to prepare for future cooperation in international peacekeeping operations, but added that "the participation of the Israeli Air Force has changed the prerequisites of the exercise." Defense Minister Leni Bjorklund said in a statement that Sweden pulled out because a state "that does not participate in international peacekeeping missions" would be part of the exercise, but did not mention Israel by name. Sweden has a long-standing policy of neutrality, but is actively involved in UN-peacekeeping missions. Its armed forces also participate in NATO exercises under the Partnership for Peace program. The Volcanex 2006 exercise will be held in cooperation with the European Air Group as part of the Italian Air Force exercise Spring Flag in Decimomannu, Italy. The EAG was established to further develop the collaboration between British and French air forces in the first Gulf War. It now has seven member nations. ********** The Secretary General of the Arab League urged European nations to renew financial aid to the Palestinians, saying the latter should not be penalized for democratically electing the radical Islamic movement Hamas. Speaking to reporters after an hour-long meeting with French President Jacques Chirac in Paris, Amre Moussa added that he thought the idea of an international conference on the Middle East conflict -- a proposal made by Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas was useful but premature. "We don't understand the position of the Europeans, who were so swift to halt aid to the Palestinian government," Moussa said. "The Palestinian people should not have to pay the price for choosing their government." Moussa said he was hopeful "these positions will be reconsidered." During their meeting, Chirac told Moussa France was "prepared to find a solution so that European aid to the Palestinians can resume," the French president's spokesman, Jerome Bonnafont, told reporters. Asked about the proposal by Abbas for an international conference to revive the moribund Middle East peace process, the head of the Arab League said: "At some point it could be useful, but not now." During a visit to Oslo on Wednesday, Abbas had called for immediate direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians at an international conference mediated by representatives of the international community. Israel responded coolly to the idea, saying the Hamas-led government stood in the way of any talks. In a reference to the Israeli government's plans to withdraw from the West Bank and set its own borders without consulting the Palestinians, Moussa said he was opposed to "unilateral measures" and appealed for a return to negotiations based on the principle of land for peace. He said he and Chirac had also discussed the international crisis over Iran's controversial nuclear programme and the brutal three-year civil war in the Darfur region of Sudan. Speaking earlier at a "Euro-Arab forum for dialogue," Moussa said the question of nuclear capabilities in the Middle East required a "global approach,.. not just a focus on Iran." "All countries must respect international laws and rules and accept inspections of their (nuclear) facilities," he stressed. "A partial solution would undermine the chance of succeeding in the fight to stop nuclear proliferation (in the Middle East)." ********** President George W. Bush issued an order blocking the assets of anyone connected with the February 14, 2005, assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Bush in a statement said the new order blocks the property and interests of anyone determined to have been involved in Hariri's assassination and that additional steps were being taken "concerning certain actions of the government of Syria." A U.N. report last year implicated senior Syrian security officials in Hariri's killing and said Syria was impeding the inquiry. Syria has denied involvement. Bush's order does not designate anyone specifically, but establishes the criteria for who would fall under the order. In addition to blocking the assets of anyone found to be involved in Hariri's assassination, the order targets anyone involved in an assassination or bombing in Lebanon since October 1, 2004, related to Hariri's killing or implicating the Syrian government, an administration official said. ********** The President of Prince Naif University for Security Sciences Dr Abdul Aziz Ibn Sakr Al Ghamdi has met in Beirut the General Director of security General Ashraf Rifi. They discussed training of security officers at the university in Riyadh. General Rifi lauded the pioneering role of Naif University. ********** The UN refugee agency has welcomed an announcement by the government of Syria to admit 181 Palestinians who fled Baghdad in terror following death threats in mid-March. Since that time they have been stranded on the Iraq-Jordan border, surviving in a makeshift camp, with supplies of food, water and other relief items provided by UNHCR and non-governmental organizations. "We have been trying to find various solutions for these Palestinians and are now very grateful that the Syrian government is offering a solution to this group," said Radhouane Nouicer, UNHCR's regional deputy director in Geneva. The group will be accepted into Syria under the auspices of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the organization set up to help Palestinians in the Near East. "We are in close contact with UNRWA which is responsible for Palestinians in Syria, and we are ready to offer assistance where needed." ********** Five foreign criminals released from prison in recent years without being considered for deportation have since been arrested and convicted of drug-related or violent crimes, Britain's top law enforcement official said. The government's failure to properly consider deportation for 1,023 prisoners before freeing them over the past seven years has created a public uproar. The home secretary said a search of police records found that five of the prisoners had been convicted of offences involving drugs or violence since their release. His office said it would not reveal precise details of the new offenses. Clarke said the search had revealed no other cases in which an offender was convicted of a serious crime, although some of the released foreign criminals are being investigated on minor charges. ********** The U.S. Senate is considering additional emergency funding for the war in Iraq. According to the U.S. Congressional Research Service, a non-partisan research arm of Congress, that cost will soon reach $320 billion and could eventually exceed expenditures for the war in Vietnam. VOA's Peter Fedynsky examines the relationship between the price of war and the ability to fight. Congressional researchers say the cost of the war is spiraling upward, from $51 billion in 2003 to nearly $102 billion this year, or $2 billion each week. This contradicts optimistic pre-war estimates, when Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld testified in Congress that the effort would not be a burden. "Before we turn to the American Taxpayer, we will turn first to the resources of the Iraqi government and the international community," the secretary said. The resources, however, have not materialized, and oil production -- which was to have been Iraq's major contribution -- has been severely cut by war. Adding to the cost is maintenance of equipment, which was not expected to be in combat for so many years, not to mention the continued price of ammunition and injuries. ********** Sultan Qaboos bin Said gave an audience at Bait Al Mamourah to Abdul Rahman Ibn Hamad Al Attiyah, Secretary-General of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). They reviewed the blessed march of the GCC states and ways of strengthening the council in all fields so that it can serve better the joint interests of the Gulf nations. The secretary-general explained to the Sultan about the preparations being made for the forthcoming Gulf consultative summit scheduled to be held in Riyadh. The audience was attended by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, undersecretary at the Foreign Ministry, and the delegation accompanying Attiyah. Later, Attiyah hailed the Royal decree issued by the Sultan ratifying the implementation of the GCC unified law on anti-dumping and alternative and protective measures as per the GCC Supreme Council decision. In a statement, Attiyah expressed his appreciation on the great efforts of Sultan Qaboos bin Said and other GCC leaders in providing continued support to push the joint march of the GCC states in all fields. Attiyah and his delegation left later and they were seen off by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi at the Salalah Civil Airport. ********** Yemeni Chairman of the Authority of geological survey and minerals Ismail al-Jand met in Sanaa with visiting delegation of the Omani ministry of trade and industry headed by director of mineral department Hilal bin Mohammed al-Azari. In the meeting, they discussed aspects of the mutual cooperation between the authority and the ministry in field of minerals. ********** Pakistan has successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable missile with a range of 2,000km (1,250 miles). Pakistani military sources said that the second test firing of the surface-to-surface Hatf VI (Shaheen II) missile was watched by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz from an undisclosed location. They said that the first missile was tested in March 2005. Aziz congratulated the country's scientists and engineers of Pakistan's Strategic Organisation for the successful test. Speaking after the test, he said Pakistan's strategy of credible minimum deterrence was fully in place and was a guarantee of peace in the region. "The defence needs of the country will always remain a priority and the strategic programme which enjoys universal support within the country will go from strength to strength," Aziz said. Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf in a message congratulated the country's scientists and engineers for carrying out the latest test with outstanding success and said the nation was proud of them. The Hatf VI is Pakistan's longest-range ballistic missile system, with the potential to reach 2,500km. Pakistan informed its regional neighbours of the test in advance, and said it would not hurt improving relations with India. Pakistan has conducted tests of surface-to-surface long range Shaheen-2 or Hatf-VI, medium range Shaheen-1 (Hatf-4), short-range surface-to-surface Hatf-3 or Ghaznavi and intermediate range ballistic missile Ghauri or Hatf-5. The Ghaznavi, Ghauri and Shaheen-1 have already been handed over to Pakistan Army's Strategic Force Command. ********** Participants in the Lebanese national dialogue failed to agree on a candidate for the presidency during the sixth round of talks on April 28, and the next meeting over President Emile Lahoud's successor during the next session, is scheduled for May 16. Despite the fact that 10 different names were proposed during the talks, the parties could not reach a consensus because some were not ready to give their final word on the issue. **********