October 6, 2006

THE NATIONAL DAY: MARTYRS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DEFENDING THE LAND OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED. THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES: THE COUNTRY WILL NEVER FORGET A MARTYR WHO DIED DEFENDING HIS FAITH AND TRUE BELIEFS. On the occasion of the National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the Kingdom remembers its sons who gave their lives and were martyred while defending their country against terrorism. In this occasion we appeal to Almighty God to bestow his mercy upon them and generously compensate them for losing their souls in defense of their nation. On the occasion of the National Day on September 23, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz urged suspected Al-Qaeda militants in the Kingdom to surrender and return to the right path. "This cherished national occasion offers an opportunity for those affiliated to the deviant group to review their stand and surrender to security authorities," King Abdullah. Speaking about the National Day, he commended King Abdul Aziz for unifying the Kingdom and laying the foundation for modern Saudi Arabia. "Ever since its establishment, the Kingdom has followed Islam as a faith, law and a way of life. We will continue to follow its teachings in our domestic as well as external affairs," he said and pledged more efforts to promote the Kingdom's development and the welfare of its citizens. King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz said Saudi Arabia would go ahead with its development process with the support and hard work of its able citizens. He reaffirmed the Kingdom's balanced foreign policy and its non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. Saudi Arabia had launched a major campaign against Al-Qaeda terrorists who are blamed for a series of bombings and shootings throughout the country since May 2003. Earlier this month, security forces killed four militants who were on a list of 36 most-wanted terrorists as well as another wanted terror suspect following a three-day gunbattle in the eastern city of Dammam. The five were apparently planning a major terrorist attack in the city as police seized a large cache of weapons including rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and live ammunition as well as two barrels of explosives, pipe bombs and communication devices. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, expressed his appreciation of and thanks to Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior, for the sincere efforts and great sacrifices extended by Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz and security men which have been a major pillar in achieving security and peace and protecting the domestic front against any aggressor, wrongdoer, or deviant who has intimidated the peaceful people including children and women and who has no respect for Allah's rights regarding himself and others. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz said that security men have shouldered the responsibility, performed their duty efficiently and determinedly confronted the evil group which afflicted the Kingdom and the world, stressing that security men will courageously eradicate criminal and malicious individuals. King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz praised security men topped by Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, noting that falsehood is fragile and has no power to confront the truth. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques conveyed his regards and appreciation to the brave security men of the Ministry of Interior. Addressing the security forces and citizens few months ago King Abdullah praised their courage in face of terrorism and said: These days, our noble Saudi people are engaged in a decisive battle against the power of evil and destruction that is represented in the deviant and misguided group of terrorists. I would like to address the security officers in particular and the men of the military bodies in general, who are the first line of defense in the battle against these criminal murderers, by saying to them that all of the Saudi people are proud of your sense of patriotism, and also proud of your courage, as well as praising the spirit of magnanimity that you demonstrate every day. I say to them: Were it not for your vigilance, the people would not have peace; and also, had it not been for the hardships you have faced, no one would know the taste of comfort. Moreover, without your sacrifices, the deviant group would not have succumbed to their defeat. I say to these courageous security men, that we will treat as our own, the dependents of those among you who gave their lives; that your injuries cause our own hearts to bleed; and that your blood is a symbol of honor that permeates the soil of our fatherland. I say to them: This faithful nation will not forget anyone who gave his life defending our religion and our country; will not forget a hero who receives injuries while performing his duties; and will not neglect an orphan whose father died in the battle of good against evil. Brother citizens: In the conflict between the power of good and the power of evil, there is no room for neutrality, nor for hesitancy; there is only one path before honorable believers, and that is to stand in one line against the corrupt oppressors in the holiest places on earth - Makkah and Madinah. I am calling on every citizen to stand as if he were a security officer, to be a support to the security forces, and to be their eyes, ears and hands. I warn every misled or misguided person by saying clearly: he who protects or sympathizes with a terrorist is himself a terrorist, and will receive his just punishment. I pray to God to have mercy on those who have sacrificed their lives for us, and we will go forth along our path, believing in God, depending upon Him and remaining confident of victory. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz the Minister of the Interior from his part has always noted that the actions done by security men in the epic of the honorable security duty have been owing to the care, support and directives of the Saudi leadership. Prince Naif stressed that security will always be prevalent all over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and will be enjoyed by all citizens and expatriates. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister, has reiterated the determination of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on going on the path of reform in the light of the teachings of Islam. Highlighting the capability and efficiency of the security men, Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz said 'they have proved to be capable of ensuring the security of all citizens and residents'. 'The Kingdom, which has been implementing the Islamic Shariah, rejects all forms of terrorism', the Minister of the Interior notes. The Minister said the Kingdom's security forces were capable of rooting out terrorism Interior Minister Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz highlighted the significant role played by security forces to boost security and stability in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Addressing commanders of security forces, notables of Makkah Region and senior civil and military officials, Prince Naif said that the security forces have exerted constant, determined efforts to combat militants and any threat to the security of citizens and residents in the Kingdom. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz has stated that there are various elements backing terrorism and said the Saudi Interior Ministry is continuing its efforts to uncover them at the right time. The Saudi minister added that the Kingdom's government has not noticed any external efforts to help dry up the ideological sources of terrorism and underlined the country's willingness to help and cooperate with all parties that are ready for every effort. Prince Naif expressed his full satisfaction with the security forces' handling of the terrorist cell during the events in Al-Dammam's Al-Mubarakiyah neighborhood between 6 and 9 September and attributed the length of time the confrontation took to the security forces' concern for the safety of the citizens and residents around the area. Saudi security forces are capable of tracking down the terrorists on the new list and foil their plans to carry out terror attacks, Interior Minister Prince Naif said. "All our security agencies are on full alert and are capable of reaching them and foiling their terrorist plans and operations," Prince Naif said. Prince Naif said Saudi security forces were successful in their two-year-long campaign against Al-Qaeda terrorists. "They have foiled not less than 90 percent of terrorist attacks, including large-scale operations," he said, adding that Saudi forces would continue their outstanding performance in the anti-terror campaign. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister, paid several visits to the families of the security officials who were killed whilst confronting groups of wanted suspects in different areas of the Kingdom and offered the government support to those who lost their lives defending their homeland.