|
|
September 1, 2006 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
***** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has sent a cable of congratulations to Uruguayan President Tabare Vaquez on the occasion of his country's national day. In his name and on behalf of the Saudi people, King Abdullah wished good health and happiness to Vaquez and progress and prosperity to the Uruguayan people. Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General has sent a cable of congratulations to Uruguayan President Tabare Vaquez on the occasion of his country's national day. Crown Prince Sultan wished good health and happiness to Vaquez and progress and prosperity to the Uruguayan people. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz has thanked Minister of Transport Dr Jubara Al-Sireisiri for the efforts exerted by his ministry to complete steps for implementing all projects approved for the fiscal year 1426-1427 H, either approved under the budget outlay or contained in the surplus of the budget of the fiscal year 1424-1425 H and the budget of 1425-1426H. In a cable of reply to Dr Al-Sireisiri, the king confirmed his support to this sector and other sectors. Earlier Dr Al-Sireisiri, in his cable to the King and Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, had expressed appreciation for the support being received by the sector of transport. He noted that all projects approved in the budget of the ministry for this year (1426-1427H ) amounting to sr7,929,000,000 for implementing new road projects, and from the surplus of the budget of 1424-1425H and the budget of 1425-1426H, have been settled. Dr Al-Sireisiri said SR 10 billion have been allocated from the surplus of the state's general budget for the two previous years, SR 5 billion for each year, and added that the ministry is currently implementing road rejects at a total cost of more than SR 22 billion.' These road projects are covering a length of more than 24,000 kilometers', he added. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz and French President Jacques Chirac discussed current events in a telephone call. During the call, regional and international event developments, topped by the middle east situation, were discussed. Saudi French bilateral relations were also reviewed. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz received the Japanese Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries who conveyed to the King the greetings of Emperor Akihito and his Crown Prince. In return the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques conveyed his greetings to the Japanes Emperor. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz has sent a cable of congratulations to President of Turkey Ahmad Najdat Cesar on the occasion of his country's victory day. In his own name and on behalf of the government and people of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the king wished the Turkish president good health and happiness and his people more progress and prosperity. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz has received the Saudi ambassadors-designate to Venezuela, Kazakhstan and Uganda, Jodaia' Bin Zain Bin Mahroot Alhathal, Hisham Bin Abdulwahab Zara'ah, and Ahmad Bin Mohammad Albahlal, respectively. During the audience, the king sent his greetings to the leaders of these countries and urged the ambassadors to work hard to bolster Saudi relations with these countries. On their part, the ambassadors expressed thanks for the king's confidence in them. The audience was attended by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the foreign minister, and Prince Dr. Bandar Bin Salman Bin Mohammad Al Saud, advisor to the king. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General recently approved the board of directors of the Saudi Aviation Club (SAC) that include eight members from the private sector. The club is looking to the private sector for support in carrying out activities that have the potential to develop into profitable tourist attractions. The board members are Prince Bandar ibn Saud, chairman of the board of trustees of Prince Sultan Tourism Science College, Prince Bandar ibn Khaled Al-Faisal, vice chairman of the Tourism Promotion Committee in the Asir Region, Prince Turki ibn Abdullah, Bakr Binladen, Khaled Al-Saif, Saad Al-Waalan, Fahd Al-Athel, Abdullah Kamel, Hassan Al-Qabani, Khaled Al-Qahtani, and Ahmad Al-Abdullateef. Dr. Emad Shaker is the club's executive director and secretary of the board. The Saudi Aviation Club (SAC) plans to establish two flight schools one in the west and the other in the east and expand skydiving and other recreational aviation activities throughout the country. "Building and operating the first flight school in Thumama Airport, north of Riyadh, is the organization's present task," an official SAC statement said. Future projects include operation of Rabigh Airport in coordination with the General Authority for Civil Aviation and developing flight schools into aviation academies offering four-year college degrees. "We also intend to carry out air-taxi operations after obtaining required approvals," the statement said. SAC was established in 2000 to promote and encourage the practice of personal, recreational and sports aviation activities, ensuring the highest standards of security and safety. The club offers the public the opportunity to learn and practice solo flying, gliding, paragliding, and radio-controlled model airplanes. "Our flight schools will provide pilot training to any person interested in becoming a professional pilot, or who would like to learn flying as a hobby," said Prince Sultan ibn Salman, chairman of the club. The flight school will issue private, commercial, or airline transport pilot licenses with instrument and multi-engine ratings. It will be authorized to offer refresher courses for pilot license holders of other countries desiring to fly in the Kingdom. Riyadh Governor Prince Salman laid the cornerstone for the first flight school in Thumama earlier this year. The school was the brainchild of Prince Sultan ibn Salman, who is also secretary-general of the Supreme Commission for Tourism. The aviation club has been working closely with security and air traffic control organizations to allow members of the public to qualify at the school and fly over Saudi Arabia. "We have been discussing practical areas such as security, air corridors etc. to allow safe flying," Sultan said. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General addressed his thanks to Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of the Higher Tourism Authority and Chairman of the Heritage Organization for offering him a copy of the book on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issued by the Heritage Organization in Riyadh. A royal agreement has been issued to include Diriyah, Madaen Saleh and the historical area in Jeddah to be under the supervision of the UNESCO. Chief of the Amman-based Regional Bureau of the International Federation of Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies Ahmad Gizo has expressed his appreciation to the Saudi government for the Saudi integrated field hospital which has helped the Lebanese people. In a statement to SPA during a visit to the hospital, Gizo said that he did not imagine that the hospital would be so inclusive with all these clinics, complimenting the great potentials of the Saudi team working in the hospital. The Saudi Crescent Society made Tyre, south Lebanon, a center for distribution of aid provided by Saudi Arabia to the south. In this context, the first batch of aid arrived and was delivered to authorities in Tyre. Saudi Charge D' Affairs in Indonesia Abdullah bin Mohammad Al-Ghamdi handed over seven saloon cars to President of The Indonesian Red Cross Society Dr. Mare'y Mohammad within the framework of the assistance provided by the Saudi government to the Asian Muslim country in the aftermath of an earthquake that has hit it recently. This is the first consignment. In addition, 10 fully-equipped ambulance cars will arrive soon. On his part, Dr. Mare'y expressed his gratitude to the Saudi government for its support and assistance in many critical times. A 85-member delegation, led by Dr Zahid Rasheed, the head of the society of the holy Quran and Sunnah (The Prophet's Teachings) in New York, met Dr Abdullah Al-Turki, the Secretary General of Makkah-Based Muslim World League (MWL). Speaking on the occasion, Dr Al-Turki hailed the role of members of the delegation in serving Islam in the US. Citing the goals of the MWL, Dr Al-Turki said 'it is an international popular Islamic organization which has been dedicating its efforts for the service of Islam'. He noted that the MWL is keen on promoting coordination with other Islamic organizations for resolving problems facing the Muslims. He noted that defamation of Islam is one of the greatest challenges facing Muslims, adding that it is the duty of every Muslim to work for correcting wrong concepts about Islam and Muslims. Dr Al-Turki said Islam advocates cooperation with all people for combating injustice and all forms of evil. 'Islam is the religion of mercy, tolerance and justice', he said. Dr Al-Turki slammed the false ideas which say that Islam is against women, and does not respect human rights. Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Al-Saniora received Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Abdulaziz bin Muheyuddin Khojah. They discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and the bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. The Chief of the General Staff, General Saleh bin Ali Al-Mohayya received the Chief of Staff of US Air Force, General Michael T. Moseley. They discussed issues of mutual interest. The reception was attended by Air Force Commander Abdulrahman bin Fahd Al-Faisal. Shaikh Mohammed bin Ali al Qatabi, Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar, presided over the opening ceremony of the Arab Youth poetry and story writing literary forum. The six-day forum is being organised by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, marking Muscat as Arab Culture Capital 2006. In his speech, Said bin Ahmed Qatan, Director-General of the Directorate-General of Heritage and Culture in Dhofar Governorate, welcomed participants from the GCC and Arab countries, stressing the ministry's keenness to hold such forums which would benefit Omani youth and help them to interact with Arab poets and story writers. He hoped that the forum will achieve its goals. Afterwards, Omani poets, Ali bin Suhail Hardan, recited his poem on Lebanon, and Bakheet al Hammar delivered a welcoming folk poem. Poets from Palestine, Qatar and Algeria also presented their poetical works, while poets from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain recited folk poems. Story writers from Bahrain, Sudan and Syria read out their short stories in the concluding session. The forum's activities will continue throughout the next five days, where sessions on fluent, classic and folk poetry and short story writing will be held. Poets and story writers will visit some tourism attraction and development facilities in Salalah. As many as 60 poets and story writers from the GCC, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Tunisia, Sudan, Somalia and Oman are taking part in the forum. The opening ceremony was attended by a number of senior officials, shaikhs, dignitaries writers and concerned people. "Taking into account the current situation in the Middle East, the Salvadorian government decided to transfer its diplomatic representation in the Hebrew State from the occupied Al Quds to Tel Aviv," said an official communiqué of the Salvadorian presidency. The transfer was decided after several Salvadorian analysts and the former guerrilla of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), which has become a legal political party, condemned the Israeli military actions against Lebanon and Palestine. In addition, the Salvadorian presidency "reiterated its recognition of the right to the existence of a Palestinian State". El Salvador is the only country that has an embassy in Al Quds after Costa Rica announced on August 17 its transfer of its diplomatic representation from the Holy City to Tel Aviv. In Beirut was Germany's Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul who met with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora after visiting Beirut's Southern suburbs, and promised some aid relief. The German official described her tour in the southern suburbs as shocking. She stressed her visit has strengthen her conviction and beliefs that the international community must do everything it can for peace in the region, and must help to get humanitarian aid. She described Lebanon as a wonderful country and the world cannot stand by and watch it being destroyed. She said German aid would focus on water, and help to clean up the environment. Her visit coincides with Italian claims that Germany offered to be involved in talks to secure the two Israeli soldiers' release. Germany negotiated an exchange of prisoners between Israel and Hezbollah in 2004, and has said it is willing to play a similar role now. Two foreign journalists working for US organisation Fox News in Gaza have been released by their kidnappers after nearly two weeks in captivity. American Steve Centanni and New Zealander Olaf Wiig were dropped off at a Gaza City beach-front hotel. Mr Centanni said they had been forced at gunpoint to say on video that they had converted to Islam. Both men appealed to other journalists not to let their experience discourage them from working in the Gaza Strip. Over the past two years, a number of foreigners have been kidnapped in Gaza. All have been freed unharmed but the Fox crew's abduction was one of the longest in Gaza in years. US Secretary of State Condolezza Rice informed Prime Minister Fouad Siniora that she was 'exerting serious and persistent effort to lift the blockade on Beirut's international airport as soon as possible.' Siniora's office said in a statement that the U.S. Secretary stressed the importance that Lebanese authorities control the country's border crossings.' Rice told Siniora by phone that the Lebanese government must be able to control all the border crossings on Lebanese territory. For his part, Siniora said the Lebanese government was adamant with its plan to control the border and all border cross points. In an effort to upgrade Israel's preparedness for a possible confrontation with Iran, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Dan Halutz has appointed Israel Air Force Commander Major General Elyezer Shkedy as the IDF's "campaign manager" against countries that do not border on Israel - primarily Iran. The appointment was made before the war in Lebanon. As part of his new responsibilities, Shkedy will act as "GOC Iran Command": He will oversee battle plans and manage the forces if war breaks out. According to a security source, Shkedy will be the "orchestra conductor," coordinating the operational activity of Mossad and Military Intelligence with the IDF's various operational branches. Druze leader Walid Jumblat traveled to Paris with Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh. The two politicians met with French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and former Foreign Minister Michel Barnier. A British Muslim delegation has returned from Lebanon finding the people united against Israeli aggression and demanding an immediate lifting of the continuing air, sea and land blockade. "The fact-finding mission were told unanimously by Lebanese leaders to urge Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to influence Israel to lift the air, sea and land embargoes," The Muslim News, Editor Ahmed J Versi, who was part of the Delegation, said. "They also want the international community to put pressure on Israel to respect Resolution 1701 and end its violations, like in kidnapping Lebanese civilians and carrying out commando raids in the Bekaa Valley," Versi said. The emphasis was that peace in the Middle East would only be achieve by resolving the Palestinian crisis. During their visit, the delegation held meetings with President Emile Lahoud, Foreign Minister, Fawzi Salloukh, Sunni and Shi'ah community leaders, and Hezbollah Head of External Relations, Ali Damush, as well British Ambassador to Lebanon, James Watt. The President was strongly supportive of the resistance by Hezbollah, saying "they have defended us, our country from the aggression of Israel." He recalled Israel's invasion in 1982 and said: "We learnt the lesson and without the stiff resistance of the Hezbollah, Israelis would have once again taken over the Presidential Palace." It was because of the Resistance that the Israelis "achieved nothing," Lahoud said. With the winter approaching, the "embargo must be lifted," he said, warning who was the country going to provide shelters for the displaced people. In this, he urged Blair to play a leading role. The Foreign Minister also urged the delegation to tell Blair to ask Israel to "immediately completely lift the Israeli air, sea and land blockade as this goes against the text and spirit of the 1701 Resolution." He also said Israel should be told to stop its violation of 1701, including its commando raid in Bekaa, "aiming at kidnapping a religious personality in Lebanon" and its "continued kidnapping of innocent civilians". "Such aggression will not contribute to a stable solution and to a smooth implementation of Resolution 1701," Salloukh warned. He also emphasised the need to "resolve the Shebaa' Farms issue" as "we consider it as a integral part of Resolution 1701." What was needed was a "complete withdrawal of Israeli troops behind the blue line," he said. The delegation, which also included Phyllis Starkey Labour MP, was co-organised by the Khoei Foundation with the Muslim Association of Britain and British Muslim Forum. It visited Lebanon last week to learn first-hand about the extent of the destruction wreaked by Israel and identify humanitarian priorities. The Muslim News Editor said he saw the devastation of thousands of dwellings and businesses, roads, bridges. Head of the Future bloc in Parliament MP Saad Hariri said the Lebanese government will rebuild the country as it succeeded in stopping the war and in pressing major world powers to include Lebanese demands in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. Hariri told reporters after meeting with Annan, which was attended by special UN envoy for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559 Terje Roed-Larsen, that resolution 1701 should be carried out quickly to end all military action and to pave the way for the withdrawal of Israeli occupation troops from Lebanese territory, adding the 'enemy' should not remain on Lebanese soil. Asked about calls 'by Hezbollah and General Michel Aoun' for a cabinet change, Hariri said the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora will continue to carry out its mandate, since it is a government of resistance,' and was able to get Israel out of Lebanon, and include Lebanese concerns in Resolution 1701. The Arabs decided to launch a "peace offensive" at the U.N. Security Council to give the international community a larger role in resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict once and for all, but it will be no easy task. Shortly after the Israeli-Lebanese war erupted last month, stunned Arab regimes came to the conclusion that the comatose peace process is effectively dead and should be reconceived, but under different terms and sponsorship, if wars, armed confrontations and bloodshed are ever to end in the Middle East. Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo last week decided it was time to launch an international peace initiative directly engaging the international community, through the U.N. Security Council, tacitly removing the peace process sponsorship from the United States and the Quartet Committee, which includes the European Union and Russia in addition to the United States and U.N. Arab diplomats say their countries are making it clear they are no longer interested in incessant negotiations with Israel through what they see as dishonest and unfair brokers, in reference to Washington and its adoption of Israeli policies and plans for unilateral solutions. The US State Department has launched an inquiry into whether Israel misused US-made cluster bombs in Lebanon during the recent conflict. Cluster bombs spray large numbers of bomblets over a wide area - which can remain unexploded and endanger civilians long after they are fired. US-made weapons have been found at many of 300 sites in south Lebanon hit by cluster bombs, according to the UN. Israel says all its weapons usage conforms to international standards. "We are definitely looking into these allegations and we'll see where they lead," State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said. A senior White House official told the BBC that the investigation will focus on whether US-made weapons were used against non-military targets. Washington has supplied Israel with cluster bombs since the 1970s, on the understanding that they would only be used against defined military targets. The UN's Mine Action Coordination Centre says it has found 318 sites in south Lebanon where cluster bombs have been used. US Congressman Dennis Kucinich met with Lebanese officials to discuss ways to assist the Lebanese people and lift the air and sea blockade imposed by Israel on Lebanon. "This is a critical moment for the Lebanese, let us use this war to reach peace, stability and security," Kucinich said after his meeting with Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh. The US official said he would visit, along with his wife, the southern suburbs of Beirut and South Lebanon. "I will convey the outcome of my visit to the Congress," he said vowing to work on finding a solution to Lebanon's crisis. Kucinich also met with the head of the Reform and Change parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun. He said his meeting with Aoun was "fruitful" because the MP "is keen on finding solutions to the Israeli blockade and bring the Lebanese people's life back to normal." France has sent to Lebanon 200 extra army engineers of its Foreign Legion to help build bridges, the French military in Paris. The first 120 soldiers flew from southern France city of Saint- Christol. The engineers will not be a part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), but will be a temporarily available on the basis of a special agreement with Beirut, France stated. 'The entire air transport (of the engineers) within Lebanon and between France and Lebanon will be handled by French helicopters and Transall aircraft,' the French military said. With the second suspect in a nearly successful train bombing now in custody, Germany is being forced to reevaluate how secure it really is, given that the attacks were stopped by a technical glitch, not by the work of security agencies. Though it's still unclear whether the bombing suspects both young Lebanese men were part of a larger network of Islamic radicals, their attempted attacks have awakened Germany to its vulnerabilities and cast new scrutiny on counterterrorism efforts. In the five years since 9/11, Germany's counterterrorism landscape has changed markedly. Germans have largely accepted new security measures, including expanded surveillance powers of security agencies, loosened privacy-protection laws, and computer profiling by police. But they've been hesitant to support tougher measures, such as a proposed anti-terror database, as many Germans feel their opposition to the Iraq war has made them largely immune to the attacks like bombings in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005. The leaders of Iraq's powerful tribes signed a solemn "pact of honour" vowing to halt their country's slide into the chaos of sectarian war. Amid scenes of celebration at a Baghdad hotel, the chieftains - who represent clans from across the country and all the major ethnic and religious groups - promised to support a government-backed peace process. Reading the charter, Sheikh Faal Namah said he and his colleagues vowed "to preserve our country, stop bloodletting and displacement among Iraqi people and halt the activities of takfiris". The accord will be seen as a boost for Iraq's prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, who had called on the traditional leaders to support his plans for a broad- based peace initiative which will culminate in national peace talks. Lebanon'sPrime Minister Fouad Siniora dismissed Israeli insistence that international forces be deployed on the Syrian border with Lebanon and said Lebanese troops already there posed no threat to Syria. Israel has said its air and sea blockade imposed on Lebanon at the start of the Israeli-Lebanon conflict on July 12 would remain in place until soldiers from an expanded UN peacekeeping force took up positions along the Lebanese-Syrian border. Contributing nations to the force have struggled for two weeks to agree on the make up of the peacekeeping mission. Lebanon has two official crossings on the Syrian border in the east, at Masnaa on the Beirut-Damascus road, and one between Baalbek in Lebanon and Homs, Syria. "We have deployed the Lebanese army on the border (with Syria), and we have no intention of showing any hostility toward Syria. We want cordial relations with Syria and we are taking care of the issue of the border to prevent any infiltration into Lebanon," Siniora said. His Cabinet reaffirming its determination to uphold the cease-fire and calling on the international community to send forces to free its army to patrol its borders. |