June 23, 2006

THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES OPENS A NUMBER OF PROJECT IN THE EASTERN REGION. KING ABDULLAH RECEIVES THE KING OF BAHRAIN AND REVIEWS WITH HIM THE IRAQI AND PALESTINIAN ISSUES AND BILATERAL COOPERATION BETWEEN SAUDI ARABIA AND BAHRAIN. KING ABDULLAH ORDERS THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS WHO VIOLATED PRIVATE RIGHTS AND SOME PRISONERS WHO VIOLATED PUBLIC RIGHTS. THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES, THE CROWN PRINCE AND THE KING OF BAHRAIN ATTEND THE CELEBRATIONS IN THE EASTERN REGION AND THE KING GRACES THE CELEBRATIONS OF AL QATEEF AND BANI KHALID. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz held a meeting with Bahrain's King Hamad Ibn Isa Al Khalifa. During the meeting, they discussed overall events in the region topped by the Palestinian cause and the situation in Iraq. Aspects of cooperation and ways of their enhancement in all fields were also reviewed. The Bahraini King expressed his pride of the role being played by the Kingdom under the leadership of King Abdullah and the Crown Prince in the service of Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) issues and of its stands in support of Arab and Islamic causes. The meeting was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, a number of princes and the delegation accompanying the Bahraini King. Bahrain's King Hamad Ibn Isa Al Khalifa arrived in the Kingdom through the King Fahd causeway. At the causeway, the Bahraini king and his accompanying delegation were received by Prince Mohammed Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of the Eastern Region and a number of officials. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud graced a luncheon held in his honor by Prince Mohammed Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of the Eastern Region. The banquet was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Miteb Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior; a number of princes and senior officials. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz graced a grand celebration held by the Eastern Region's citizens. The celebration was attended by Bahrain's King Hamad Ibn Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General. Upon arrival at the venue, King Abdullah was received by Prince Mohammed Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of the Eastern Region, a number of princes and senior officials. A speech ceremony was held on this occasion. Addressing the attendance, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques said that the Eastern Region's citizens have proved several times their loyalty to the religion and the homeland. The Homeland is proud of the Islamic religion and the sincere men, the King said and prayed to Almighty Allah for helping him in their service and glory. The King noted that the first oil well in the region was called the well of prosperity, adding that the whole Eastern Region deserves to be called the region of prosperity since it has the treasure of the earth. The Monarch pointed out that the industrial development was launched from the region. Gigantic edifices have been built on its soil which have been a source of pride for every citizen, he said and added that the edifices include Saudi Aramco, SABIC and Jubail and Yanbu Royal Commission. The King praised Allah for the prosperity that spreads over the blessed Kingdom. The Monarch stressed that the Kingdom will continually bring about prosperity for its citizens, brothers, friends and all human beings. The King thanked the attendance for the warm welcome, praying to Al-Mighty Allah to perpetuate the homeland's security, prosperity and unity under the umbrella of the Islamic tolerant religion. In his speech, Prince Mohammed Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of the Eastern Region said that the Monarch has been keen on opening many prosperous doors to citizens particularly the youth in creating new job opportunities, promising investment for business men, profits for companies and several gains for Saudi society. He also thanked the King for his keenness on preserving the interests of his people and supporting all Arab and Muslim issues everywhere. During the celebration, the Monarch inaugurated a building of Prince Mohammed Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz Program of Qualification and Employment of Saudi Youth and Youth Club. King Abdullah, the Bahraini King and the Crown Prince graced a dinner party held by the region's citizens. The celebration was attended by Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Miteb Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior; a number of princes; ministers and officials. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud left Riyadh for the Eastern Region. At King Khalid International Airport, the Monarch was seen off by Prince Fahd Ibn Mohammed Ibn Abdul Aziz; Prince Fahd Ibn Mishari Ibn Jelawi; Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh Region; Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister; a number of princes; ministers and senior officials. The King was accompanied by Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Miteb Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior; a number of princes and officials. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud arrived in the Eastern Region. At Dhahran-based King Abdulaziz Airbase, the Monarch was received by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Faisal Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdullah Ibn Jelawi; Prince Mohammed Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of the Eastern Region; a number of princes; senior officials and groups of citizens. Prince Mohammed Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of the Eastern Region described the visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to the Eastern Region as an extension of the King 's keenness on his personal inspection and care of all citizens in various regions of the Kingdom. He said that the visit embodies a full care and attention paid by the leader of the march to all his people to sense their needs and work for their comfort and prosperity. The Prince said that the visit means that the policy of an open door pursued by the Kingdom's leadership is one of the most important features of the governing system in the Kingdom. In a statement on this occasion, Prince Jelawi Ibn Abdul Aziz Ibn Musaed, the Vice Governor of the Region said that the region such as other regions of the Kingdom has had its plentiful share of an economic development and expansion of projects. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah inaugurated the first phase of Jubail-II that is estimated to attract industrial projects worth SR210 billion and create more than 55,000 jobs. King Abdullah, who was on a visit of the Eastern Province, also launched 20 new projects worth SR82 billion belonging to the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RC), the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and various other private companies, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Crown Prince Sultan, Eastern Province Governor Prince Muhammad Ibn Fahd, Prince Saud Ibn Abdullah Ibn Thunayan, chairman of the Royal Commission, and senior Cabinet members and top officials attended the launch. The king pressed a button to mark the opening of Jubail-II, which covers an area of 1,950 hectares. He also watched satellite pictures of Jubail city, the two industrial cities (Jubail-I and Jubail-II), the industrial port and major factories. Jubail-II would provide an expansion facility for the industrialization of the city for the next 25 to 30 years. Addressing the ceremony, Mohammed Al-Madhi, executive president of SABIC, highlighted the tremendous progress achieved by the petrochemical giant during the past 30 years. He said 85 percent of the company's employees are Saudis. They are running its advanced machinery and facilities. Saudi Arabia earned a revenue of SR70 billion from export of petrochemicals and other downstream industrial products last year. Other projects launched by the king in Jubail were the Butanediol plant of the Saudi International Petrochemical Company (Sipchem), projects of the National Industrial Gas Company (Gas), the Eastern Petrochemical Company (Sharq), the United Petrochemical Company, the Saudi Iron & Steel Company (Hadeed), the Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Company (Safco), the National Industrialization Company, Nama, Khaleej Chemical Industries and Farabi Petrochemical Company. King Abdullah also opened the highway linking the present Jubail industrial city with Jubail-II, built by the Royal Commission, and laid the foundation stone for a water pumping station, a power distribution station and a new wing of the Royal Commission Hospital. Jubail is a burgeoning industrial hub on the Gulf, which has already received foreign investments of over SR172 billion ($46 billion). Many new petrochemical, oil and infrastructure projects are coming up in Jubail, involving billions of riyals in investment. Sipchem recently signed a SR4 billion contract with a consortium of Canadian, German and French firms for the construction of acetic acid and vinyl acetate plants in Jubail. Last month, Saudi Aramco signed a landmark accord with France's Total to build a world-class oil refinery in the city at an estimated cost of nearly SR22.5 billion ($6 billion.) The project is scheduled to begin operating in 2011. The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz patronized the celebrations held on the occasion of launching the first phase of the project of Jubail 2 which includes a number of infrastructure projects. He was welcomed by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, other princes and officials. Prince Saud Ibn Abdullah Ibn Thenian, the president of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, said Jubail has turned from a small village into the biggest engineering project in the world and the most attractive center for investments. Later the King attended the luncheon held on the occasion. The function was attended by Prince Metib Ibn Abdul Aziz, the minister of municipal and rural affairs, other princes and senior officials. In Qateef the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz graced the reception party held by the citizens Qateef governorate in his honor. On behalf of the citizens of Qateef governorate, Dr Riyad al-Mustafa welcomed King Abdullah and highlighted his wisdom and farsightedness. He praised the role of King Abdullah in advocating tolerance, coexistence and fraternity as well as moderation. The reception party was attended by Prince Metib Ibn Abdul Aziz, the minister of municipal and rural affairs, other princes and senior officials. The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz graced the reception party held in his honor by the tribe of Bani Khalid. Speaking on behalf of Bani Khalid tribe, Dr Ali al-Khalidi highlighted the security, stability and prosperity prevailing in the Kingdom. He lauded the existing coherence between the leadership and citizens, and renewed allegiance to the King and his Crown Prince. The reception party was attended by Prince Metib Ibn Abdul Aziz, the minister of municipal and rural affairs, other princes and senior officials. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received Muslim scholars (Ulema), Sheikhs and groups of citizens who came to greet and congratulate him on safe arrival in the eastern region. The audience was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense And Aviation And Inspector General; Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Miteb Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal And Rural Affairs; Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior; a number of princes; ministers and officials. They all had dinner at the king's banquet. On the other hand Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah ordered the release of prisoners, including expatriates, held for petty crimes in all parts of the Kingdom and the payment of the debts and indemnities of people detained for violating private rights, the Saudi Press Agency reported, quoting a royal court statement. The humanitarian gestures came on the occasion of Abdullah's visit to the Eastern Province and a number of other regions, his first after becoming the king in August 2005. "The king issued his order for the payment of debts and blood money on behalf of people detained for violating private rights," the royal court said. The king also declared amnesty for "some prisoners held in jails all over the Kingdom for violating public rights," the statement said, adding that the amnesty would not cover those who had committed big crimes or those who posed a threat to security. "The royal decree has exempted from the amnesty those (criminals) serving jail sentences for big crimes or legal punishments or those detainees who are expected to serve legal punishments or whose crimes had resulted in the violation of a private right," it added. Detainees who had run away from jails before or after court verdicts will not qualify for the amnesty," the royal court said, adding that the decree does not discriminate against Saudis and expatriates. "The king hopes that the gesture would encourage such prisoners to reform themselves and keep away from committing such petty crimes in the future," the statement said. The king has already instructed Interior Minister Prince Naif to implement his orders in accordance with the above conditions. With regard to the payment of debts, the decree instructed authorities to make sure that such prisoners were unable to pay them and not simply evading payment or playing with public money. They should also check whether the debt was the result of a crime. "This generous order by the king will release a large number of people detained, especially expatriates," said lawyer Omar Al-Khouli. "The system does not allow imprisoning insolvent debtors, but the reality is different." Al-Khouli said there are people who completed their prison sentences but remain in jail over the violation of their victim's (or victim's family's) private right because they are unable to pay their debt or blood money. Abdullah Abulsamh, a senior member of the quasi-governmental National Society for Human Rights and among the team that visited prisons in Saudi Arabia last year and filed a report about them, agreed that this order would affect many of the prisoners. "We found a large number of detainees being held over the issue of private rights. The important thing about this generous order is that it included expatriates," he said. These expatriates remain in jail even after serving their terms because their iqamas have expired and their sponsors do not want to renew them. According to SPA The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz has issued orders to pay for detainees of special rights who should pay debts or blood money and ordered to pardon prisoners of a public right detained and convicted in all jails in the Kingdom's regions on the occasion of the King's tour of a number of the Kingdom's regions to inspect the situations of citizens and to inaugurate a number of developmental projects, the Royal Court said in a statement. The statement said that payment will be settled for financially incapable detainees of special rights. It stipulates that the debtors should neither be procrastinating nor manipulating finances of persons. As to the pardon granted to some of detainees of a public right, the order exempted those who have committed great crimes and those who pose a danger to security. This royal gesture will include Saudis and expatriates to unify the detainees' families, the statement said and added that the King is confident that this humanitarian gesture will be as an impetus for reforming themselves and avoiding the occurrence of such acts. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior was directed to implement the royal pardon according to the conditions. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister expressed his pleasure over the royal orders issued by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to pay for detainees of special rights who should pay debts or blood money and to pardon some prisoners of a public right on the occasion of the king's tour of a number of the kingdom's regions to inspect the situations of citizens. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Prince Naif pointed out that the orders included citizens and expatriates, stressing that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the kingdom of humanity seeking for the happiness of a human being whatever his nationality might be. He noted that this position stems from the Islamic religion aiming to achieve justice and equality. Prince Naif expected the pardon to encompass large numbers of prisoners, adding that citizens expressed their appreciation of the king for this royal gesture.