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December 1, 2006 |
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THE GOVERNOR OF RIYADH: THE PROJECT COVERS NEEDY SECTION OF THE SOCIETY. THE GOVERNOR OF RIYADH PATRONIZES THE 6TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE HISTORY OF THE ARABIAN PENINSULA. Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Riyadh region expressed his delight at the extension of services of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Foundation for his Parents for Housing Development for the Riyadh region. Prince Salman during his meeting with the Secretary General of the Foundation, Dr. Yousef Bin Ahmed Al Othaimain said that all the facilities will be provided for housing to be constructed in the province. He said all available services are in place to serve the citizens in dire need of this project. Prince Salman called on the Almighty to reward the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz's, Chairman of the foundation. For his part, Secretary General of the King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz To His Parents For Housing Development said that the Secretariat will begin planning and design of the project site with contract with the offices of engineering and specialized national explaining that this project will be included in the second phase. The project's land is located in the city of Al Aflaj Governorate on an area of (290.000) square meters and has easy access and proximity to populated residential areas and a water tank, electricity network near the site. The number of beneficiaries in the until 1427 is (2355), while the volume of the family tenants to their homes is (619) i.e (26.2%). As for the families living in houses owned and "bad" amounted to (1408) i.e (59.8%) and the total number of families in need of housing is (2027) family. The Foundation did a survey with the help of local charities in order to assess the need for housing in the Kingdom's regions and governorates. Charities in Al Aflaj said that there are about (311) in need for housing, as most of those families live in "bad" i.e around (219) with a ration of (70.4%) of the total number of beneficiaries of the charities. According to the latest census the number of those most in need of housing information is (311) families. However, the social security data and data of the general population, two more comprehensive state that the size of the need is about the Family (2027). On the other hand Riyadh Governor Prince Salman opened an international seminar on the history of the Arabian Peninsula titled "Arabian Peninsula from fifth century until the end of seventh century Hijrah". Organized by King Saud University, the seminar was held at Hamad Al-Jasser Hall. Dr. Abdullah Al-Faisal, president of the university, highlighted the significance of the seminar, saying it would help write the peninsula's history in a correct perspective. Governor of Riyadh Prince Salman has said that preserving Arab and Islamic history is not an obstacle to progress as a nation. He was speaking at the inauguration of "The Program of the 6th International Symposium Studies in the History of Arabia' held at King Saud University on Sunday. "It is unfortunate that I hear many people say that preserving our Arab and Islamic history hinders our progress. I say no to this. On the contrary, it inspires us to progress. Our rich past makes us look forward to a potential and prosperous future," he said, adding, "The people of Saudi Arabia and their brethren in the Islamic world need to preserve the history of Arabia more than others." He said that nations around the world take pride in their history and that the people of Saudi Arabia were no different. "History is an important part of our lives that we cannot be separated from. Those who do not have a past do not have a future," stressed the prince. Prince Salman added that Arabs and Muslims were the first to cement modern science in many areas at a time when Europe was in darkness. On his part, the president of the program, Dr. Suleiman Al-Thayeeb, said that people of the Arabian Peninsula have transferred their knowledge to other civilizations such as the civilization in Iraq and in Europe. He noted how Arabs were keen on learning from other civilizations and had become pioneers in the fields of science, medicine and astronomy. He also mentioned that there were many academic researchers who had participated in the program to share their knowledge with other local researchers who specialize in studying Arab history and civilization, and Arab tribes and their origins. "Some of these researchers have come from friendly countries such as the United States, the UK, France, and Spain," he said, adding that other academics have come from Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and the UAE. The program aims at giving an integrated study of the history of the Arabian Peninsula between the fifth and the end of the seventh century Hijrah. The program discusses the nature of governing authorities and their interrelations in the regions and towns of Arabia. It also studies the influences of the major Islamic powers in Arabia such as the Abbasids, Fatimids, Ayyubids and Mamelukes. In addition, the program discusses economic and social conditions, trade, agriculture, crafts, pastoralism, relations with the international centers and the Muslim world as well as the role of pilgrimage in the exchange of trade. Minister of Higher Education Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari, the rector of King Saud University Dr. Abdullah Al-Faisal, as well as other senior officials attended the event. In Kuwait the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participated in the Third Conference of Ministers of Higher Education in Islamic States, which was attended by representatives from 56 states and 30 regional and international organizations. A university of science and technology is being constructed in Thuwal, about 100 km north of Jeddah. Spread over an area of 30 million square meters along the Red Sea, the project would cost SR10 billion ($2.6 billion), informed sources said. Classes are scheduled to begin in 2008. The new university, named after Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, will offer studies in micro-technology, nano-technology, water and conservation technology, biotechnology, information technology and computer science and programs. Egyptian Nobel Prize laureate Ahmed Zewail is a leading candidate to become the university's president, a source said. According to Dr. Abdullah Al-Othman, deputy minister of Higher Education, the king has already allocated funds for the university project. "An endowment property will be set aside to ensure continuous revenues required for running the institution," he said. Al-Othman said the university would receive not only Saudis but also some outstanding Muslim students from other countries. "The main standard for work and study at this university is excellence and innovative capabilities. Priority will be given to foreign scientists and Muslim students," he added. "This university is the brainchild of King Abdullah," he said, adding that the university would provide an atmosphere conducive to research and development. In a previous statement the king emphasized the need for achieving scientific and technological progress. "We are living in an era of scientific and technological advancement," he said. "There is no real power without achieving progress in science and technology. Anyone failing to achieve excellence in these subjects will be marginalized. The new university will aim at achieving excellence in science and technology." Work on the project, which is managed by Saudi Aramco, has already started, the sources said. "King Abdullah University of Science and Technology is aimed at producing future pioneers in science and technology and promoting the Kingdom's research and technological capabilities," said Khaled Abdul Aziz Al-Faleh, Aramco's vice president for industrial affairs. The new university project is significant as it would support the Kingdom's push for achieving balanced development for all regions by opening mega economic cities, which require highly educated and trained manpower. At present most high-tech jobs are done by expatriate workers. Under the patronage of the Emir of the State of Kuwait: The third Islamic Conference of the Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research opens its works in Kuwait with the participation of the representatives of 57 countries The third Islamic Conference of the Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research commenced its proceedings today afternoon in Kuwait, under the patronage of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Emir of the State of Kuwait. This event was held upon the invitation of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ISESCO- under the theme of "Scientific and technological excellence key to progress and prosperity". The opening session was presided over by Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al- Sabah, the Kuwaiti Prime Minister, on behalf of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait and Patron of the Conference. For his part, Dr. Adel Taleb Al-Tabtabae, the Kuwaiti Minister of Higher Education, delivered an address where he welcomed the members of the conference and the representatives of regional and international organizations. He also stressed the importance of the issues and subjects put on the conference agenda, stating that they are of particular concern both to us, and to developing societies in all countries of the world, in general. Furthermore, he pointed out that fostering scientific and technological cooperation among the states of the Islamic world is one of the requisites to develop our societies in all fields, considering that the development of scientific and technological research is the basis for success of an integrated, balanced sustainable development. Dr. Tabtabae added that, "developing mechanisms for the implementation of the Strategy for the Development of Biotechnology, adopted by the conference in its previous session is a major step forward. The Draft Strategy for Developing Higher Education and Scientific Research is by all academic, artistic and scientific standards an important achievement we have longed for since many years ago. This strategy will be a support to the Strategy for Developing Education in the Islamic countries, which will be submitted at the upcoming General Conference of ISESCO to adopt its amended version". Further still, the Kuwaiti Minister underscored that the subject of the prevention of migration of scientific competencies from the countries of Islamic world- the conference will debate a draft action plan on it- is an issue of major concern to developing countries. It is also a subject that has many ramifications and inter-related components and causes, which need to be considered from a wide angle, and not only from a merely scientific and academic one. There is no doubt that the conference will devote a great interest to this action plan, considering the vital aspect of the issue and the pressing need to address it and to come out with a judicious resolution thereon that takes in account these considerations. In an address delivered on this occasion, Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said that the Islamic world is expecting today the outcome of this conference, as it looks forward to any Islamic common initiative or action. Hence, we will seek to come up in this conference with positive results which will consolidate the great action carried out by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, a specialized body of the Organization of the Islamic Conference -OIC- enjoying the confidence and support of all the Member States. ISESCO Director General added that development of science and technology is the crucial factor conducive to comprehensive sustainable development, that scientific and technological excellence is key to progress and prosperity in all fields, and that cooperation and concerted efforts in this vital field is a collective duty and a fundamental necessity for upgrading the Islamic world and opening up to the good prospects offered by scientific and technological progress in the world. Moreover, Dr. Altwaijri stated that scientific research in our countries is below the required level, in a way that hinders it from contributing to scientific and technological progress in all areas of science. As a matter of fact, the rate of public expenditure on scientific research in most Member States does not exceed 1% of the Gross Domestic Product. Worse still, this rate sharply decreases in some Member States to be at or below 0.5%. "Such a situation, he said, seriously affects the present and future of the Islamic world, which puts increased responsibility on us towards the people of our Ummah, who aspire to resume a new civilizational cycle on the grounds of the scientific basis on which hinges the progress of any nation." In addition, Dr. Altwaijri pointed out that, "our Ummah has the lowest levels of scientific and technological development among all nations and suffers from a poor scientific infrastructure at all levels. It has also a fragile scientific, civilizational edifice which is supposed to constitute the solid basis for the general civilizational edifice. Likewise, our Ummah witnesses a lack of interest in keeping pace with the latest scientific and technological developments. Accordingly, we ought to rise to the great challenges we are facing, through strengthening and developing our universities quantitatively and qualitatively, enhancing scientific research and extending its scope to the maximum, and consolidating Islamic solidarity and elaborating it in action plans and strategies, which is part of the competence of this conference and the top priorities of the Islamic Organization." During the opening session, Dr. Ali Akbar Salhi, Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, pointed up the challenges facing the States of the Islamic world in the field of education, and knowledge and information technology. He stressed the need to step up efforts to face these challenges through activating the mechanisms for cooperation and keeping pace with the latest developments in that field. By the same token, he highlighted the importance of the contribution being made by ISESCO and the Federation of the Universities of Islamic World to support the efforts of the OIC Member States, particularly in the field relating to the development of higher education and the promotion of scientific research. He also stated that the OIC Ten-Year Programme of action has dedicated a special care to the issues relating to the promotion of education, higher education and scientific research in the Islamic world. In conclusion of the inauguration, Sheikh Nasser presented awards to six scientists who won the ISESCO prize 2006. Islamic Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) approved holding its next conference in the Azeri capital, Baku, in September 2008, said the organization's General Director Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri. After the conclusion of the Third Conference of Ministers of Higher Education in Islamic States, Al-Tuwaijri told reporters that the organization also approved on the holding the conference every two years instead of three years to cope with the rapidly changing science and technology. The third conference approved all of the presented projects including the ISESCO report, strategic technology project and the Islamic network for science and technology ethics. Al-Tuwaijri lauded the organization of the conference, which was held in Kuwait, thanking Kuwaiti officials who made the success of the conference possible. He also thanked participating delegations who stressed their support for ISESCO to continue its services for comprehensive development in the Islamic world. (end) ha. |
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