January 19, 2007

CROWN PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ OPENS THE HEADQUARTERS OF PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN FAHD IBN ABDUL AZIZ PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPING THE YOUTHS, 12 PROJECTS AT KING FAHD CITY IN DHAHRAN AND DONATES SR 20 MILLION TO SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE EASTERN REGION. PRINCE SULTAN: SAUDI ARABIA WILL SOON RECEIVE 72 MILITARY AIRCRAFT FROM BRITAIN. IT IS UP TO THE KING TO DECIDE ABOUT THE CABINET RESHUFFLE AND WHAT HE DECIDES IS GOOD FOR ALL. THE CROWN PRINCE DONATES SR 10 MILLION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CULTURAL CENTRE IN AL QATEEF. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, opened the headquarters of Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz program for developing the youths. Upon arrival at the venue, Crown Prince Sultan was received by Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Governor of the Eastern region, and Dr. Isa Bin Hasan Al-Ansari, the program's supervisor general. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Al-Ansari recalled that since 1420 H., when the program was commenced, its designers were concerned about male youths employment only. Then, the program entered new fields of interest, particularly comprehensive development for both sexes, he said. Speaking through a closed-circuit TV channel, a girl described the program as a station at which male and female youth could discover their skills and talents. On his part, Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz thanked Crown Prince Sultan for the patronage he accorded to the facility, calling it a new achievement scored by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz for the benefit of the youths. Prince Mohammed gave an account of the program's accomplishments since its establishment seven years ago, citing the employment of more than 20,000 male and female youths, the training of more than 33,000 during summer vacations over that last four years and the implementation of rich diversified cultural and youths programs. Then Crown Prince Sultan donated 10 million Saudi Riyals to the program. Addressing the gathering, Crown Prince Sultan thanked Almighty Allah for the unprecedented success of this year's Hajj, attributing the achievement to the instructions of the King and follow-up of Hajj senior officials. He noted the interest of the government of King Abdullah in youth affairs in their capacity as the real wealth of the nation. He called on the private sector and other civil society organizations to join the government in its serious endeavour to provide unlimited service for the Saudi male and female youths. He cited the recently-announced budget as yet another evidence of the government's interest in youth development. The event was attended by princes and senior civil and military officials. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, expressed pleasure of what he has seen at Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz program for developing the youth. On the possibility of building similar centers throughout the country, Crown Prince Sultan told reporters he prefers to leave the matter open for whoever (governor, company, military sector) who wants to do such a thing rather than dictating some ideas on any body. Asked whether there is a specific mechanism to implement developmental projects in the current budget, he said there is no better mechanism than the instructions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz who ordered the ministers to expedite the implementation process. I'm sure this is enough, he added. He also spoke about the government's efforts to develop the international airports in Jeddah and Dammam. "There is a serious study on King Fahd Airport in Dammam to develop it further in order to attract more airline companies," he said when asked about plans to prevent dropout of passengers to neighbouring airports. He added that a committee is studying the wave of infiltration of some passengers through King Fahd airport to airports in neighbouring countries. On ways to combat unemployment, he said plans are doing well Crown Prince Sultan, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defence and Aviation, announced Saudi Arabia's plan to purchase 72 military aircraft from Britain. "The delivery (of these planes) will take place very soon and in accordance with a specific timetable," the Saudi Press Agency quoted the Crown Prince as saying. Prince Sultan was referring to the Kingdom's plans to import Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to replace its Tornado and other combat aircraft. Saudi Arabia and Britain signed a deal on purchasing the jets in December 2005. The deal was reached after talks between Prince Sultan and British Defense Secretary John Reid in Riyadh. Prince Sultan emphasized the Kingdom's strategy of purchasing arms from different sources. "We don't want to depend on a single source for our defence requirements as we want to acquire the best and advanced weapons," he said while explaining the strategy. Prince Sultan made the remarks while talking to reporters after opening the headquarters of Prince Muhammad Ibn Fahd Youth Development Program in Dammam. He said the program, initiated by the governor of the Eastern Province, would play a big role in developing skills of young Saudi men and women. The project of the building of Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz program for the development of the youth was implemented on an area of 7400 square meter, while the area of the building, built in line with modern architectural standards, amounts to 10,000 square meter. The building includes a club for the youth. The building will also house the Eastern Province Youth Club, according to a press statement issued by the office of the Eastern Province Governor Prince Muhammad Ibn Fahd. The building has been built in line with the latest architectural standards. The youth program aims to tackle the problems faced by Saudi youths and also focuses on the development of their skills intellectually, physically, culturally and socially. It also aims at developing their skills in sports. Prince Muhammad launched the program in view of the increasing number of young Saudi graduates looking for jobs and related social problems. The program, which was originally launched seven years ago under the name Prince Muhammad Ibn Fahd Program for Training and Employing Saudi Youth, has helped a large number of educated youth find suitable jobs. The Crown Prince attributed the success of this year's Hajj to the sincere efforts of the government and non-governmental agencies that took part in providing various services to the pilgrims. The Crown Prince also said that studies were under way for further expansion of the Holy Haram including the expansion of the area between the two hills of Safa and Marwa. The viability of running electric trains between Mina and Arafat in order to resolve the traffic problems experienced during the Hajj period is also under consideration. Prince Sultan said a few skyscrapers are being built in the Mina Valley to see if the experiment would be a success so that more such buildings could be constructed for housing pilgrims during Hajj. Commenting on speculations that the Saudi Cabinet may be reshuffled Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz said "it is up to the King to decide, and no one has the right to talk about that except him. What he decides is good for all." In a press statement Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the governor of the eastern region, highlighted the great attention being by the Saudi officials to the youth. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, graced a grand party held by the people of Al-Qateef in his honour to mark his visit to the eastern region. During the speech party, Crown Prince Sultan announced his donation of 10 million Saudi riyals to set up Prince Sultan Civilization Centre in Al-Qateef. Upon arrival at the venue, Crown Prince who was accompanied by Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, was received by the province's dignitaries. The event was attended by a big number of people. Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul-Aziz, the Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, opened a Square named after him at King Khaled Military City in Dhahran. On arrival at the venue, the Crown Prince was received by Commander of the Eastern province Major General Ahmed Mohammed Al-Rubaian and a number of high-ranking officials. The Crown Prince was accompanied by Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of the Eastern Province. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General left the Eastern region for Hafr Al-Baten governorate after inaugurating a number of developmental projects in the Eastern region. At King Abdul Aziz Airbase Airport, he was seen off by Prince Mishari Bin Saud Ibn Abdul Aziz, Under Secretary of the National Guard for the eastern sector, a number of princes, officials and citizens. The Crown Prince was accompanied by Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the governor of the Eastern region and a number of princes. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General arrived in Hafr Al Baten. At King Khalid Military City Airport, he was received by a number of princes and officials. The Crown Prince was accompanied by Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the governor of the Eastern region and a number of princes.