Ain-Al-Yaqeen - February 16, 2007

		February 16, 2007

THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES' COMPREHENSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ITAR TASS.
KING ABDULLAH IBN ABDUL AZIZ: PEACE IS A STRATEGIC OPTION FOR ARABS AND WE HAVE STRESSED THAT, BY SUBMITTING TWO PEACE PROJECTS AT FEZ AND BEIRUT SUMMITS.
THE STABILITY OF IRAQ NECESSITATES WIPING OUT ALL SOURCES OF VIOLENCE AND ARMED MILITIAS AND PRESERVING THE NATIONAL UNITY AMONG ALL COMPONENTS OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE.
POWER IS TRUSTWORTHINESS AND RESPONSIBILITY NOT INFLUENCE AND FORCE.
PRESIDENT PUTIN'S VISIT TO THE KINGDOM IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS COOPERATION AND REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES.
THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES PATRONIZES IN THE PRESENCE OF PRESIDENT PUTIN THE PRESENTATION OF KING FAISAL INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR THE SERVICE OF ISLAM TO TATARSTAN'S PRESIDENT SHAIMIEV.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin on his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, noting that the visit is a good opportunity to discuss a wide range of topics pertaining to bilateral relations and consultations on the situations in the region and the world.

In an interview with First Deputy Director General Of Russian Itar Tass News Agency Michael Gosman, the King dealt with topics of internal affairs, regional and international issues and the Kingdom's influential role at all arenas.

Replying to a question on the importance of President Putin's visit to the Kingdom, King Abdullah said that the two countries have great economic capabilities, good natural resources, various investment opportunities and distinguished cultural and civilization heritage along with great political weight at the international arenas.

Our meetings at all levels have been very important since they have contributed to the development of understanding, bilateral cooperation and enhancement of relations in all fields, the King said and added that the visits enhance continual consultation and coordination on important regional and international arenas.

He noted that bilateral relations have been characterized by friendship, cooperation and mutual respect.

Responding to another question on development of relations, the King said that the two countries have great capabilities for wide range of cooperation, indicating that during his previous visit to Russia the two countries reached a group of agreements and memorandums of understanding in oil and gas sectors and scientific, technological, sports and commercial cooperation.

The King looks forward to expanding cooperation on mutual investment promotion, air transport services, avoidance of duplicate taxation, enhancement of scientific cooperation and expansion of research, educational and technological fields.

In reply to a question on the Kingdom's role in solving regional and international problems, King Abdullah said the Israeli Palestinian conflict has been the longest one in the contemporary history and one of main factors in tension and instability in the Middle East which has affected the world and international relations as a whole. How can we imagine the world if there is a just, comprehensive and lasting settlement to this dispute? Many problems will automatically be solved, many economic resources will be available to achieve human development and peace and rapport will prevail among peoples, the King said.

We as Arabs have not accepted peace as a strategic option only, but we have submitted two peace projects at Arab Fez and Beirut summits. We have supported peace projects leading to the set up of two independent states based on the international legitimacy and its resolutions.

Meanwhile the other party has shown rejection and stubbornness towards all these peace initiatives, intensification of occupation and creation of situations on the ground that increasingly complicate this dispute.

Russia undoubtedly has an important role in finding a peaceful settlement due to its membership in the international quartet committee.

We hope that the committee's current efforts lead to reviving peace process, focusing on major issues of the dispute, and radically solving them since partial solutions have been ineffective in achieving hopeful progress.

Asked about the necessary measures, he thinks, to be taken to bring about stability in Iraq and prevent a new escalation of conflicts in the region, the King said achieving stability in Iraq necessitates dealing with its general situation comprehensively and taking into consideration its three dimensions in a balanced and fair way that should not prefer any dimension to the other.

The security dimension necessitates wiping out all sources of violence and armed militias without discrimination or difference, the political dimension will be achieved through national unity among all components of the Iraqi people including all their ethnic groups, religious sects, and political factions on equal footing on rights and duties and sharing of the country's wealth while the sovereignty dimension is successfully achieved by the preservation of the country's independence, sovereignty, unity of territories and regional integrity, the King added.

Any disorder of imbalance of this equation would incur negative impact on the general situation and the efforts aiming at achieving its stability, he said.

In response to a question on the aspects of cooperation between the world's two leading producers and exporters of oil: Russia and Saudi Arabia and what are the measures taken by the Kingdom towards predictions that natural resources would sooner or later deplete, the King said the Kingdom and federal Russia are two giant oil countries and that petroleum is considered not only a key revenue for both of them but also an important factor and most influential in the world economy, a matter that necessitates cooperation and coordination between us to guarantee secure oil supplies and achieve stability and balance in the world oil market for the benefit of producers and consumers as well.

In this regard, there are joint committees of our two countries assigned to discuss cooperation in the fields of oil and energy and to achieve coordination between us in this field, he added.

Responding to another question on terrorism faced by the Kingdom, the King said if we compare our situation today with regard to the danger of terrorism, it is better than it was two or five years ago. The decline of danger has resulted from the great efforts in confronting this abnormal phenomenon.

Our achievements in this regard have been owing to the society standing together in confronting this phenomenon alien to the society and contrary to the Islamic principles and owing to the bravery of security men sincerely defending their religion and homeland.

The Monarch pointed out that since terrorism is an output of a deviating thought, we have dealt with it from intellectual and cultural aspects to correct the deviating thoughts alien to our society. Our war on terrorism has not finished yet, he said and added we will continue our efforts locally and internationally until this phenomenon is uprooted.

Asked on the application of one currency and one identity card in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries by 2010, King Abdullah said we, in the GCC countries, have the same aims and ambitions particularly our living in a promising region having high growth rate and great economic capabilities. As we have achieved a number of accomplishments on the march of gulf cooperation, our aspirations are greater for opening our countries to each other, forming common market, allowing streamline movement of people and goods, exchanging benefits and achieving economic and strategic ties to form an economic unity in the service of member states and to move as one bloc outside our borders.

Bearing in mind that the Kingdom is known as a religious center for all Muslims around the world, including some 20 million Russian Muslims, and as host of more than two million pilgrims every year who come to perform Hajj in Makkah and visit Madinah, the Monarch was asked about the significance of his initiative to host big numbers of pilgrims by his royal court every year.

The King confirmed that Hajj is a unique humanitarian experience that combines the existence of the human being as an individual on one hand and as part of society on the other. Such ideal meanings are targeted by the Kingdom while serving pilgrims, particularly pilgrims from Russia and other places of the world, he said.

In view of today's much talk about dialogue among civilizations and religious and cultural tolerance, the King was asked about the measures that should be taken to deter the world from further divisions.

He said we ought to recognize that all humanitarian civilizations have gushed out from the same stream and that they have exchanged benefits over history that yielded today's development. Such concept should be generalized among people of today to guarantee the respect of each other and prevent all fake calls for division and difference among them, he added.

In his capacity as initiator of Janadriya Annual Festival for Heritage And Culture which attracts the most prominent figures of the Arab culture, King Abdullah was asked about his objective when he launched the project and whether there are plans to expand the geographical sphere of the festival or invite other countries to take part in it.

In response to the question, he said the Kingdom is a continent-like country rich of its diversified cultural heritage. Accordingly, Al-Janadriyah resembles an annual event for the Kingdom's culture and legacy to be demonstrated and cultural visions and concepts and proposals to be exchanged and discussed, he said, adding that it is, thus, an open event not only for the Kingdom's people but for all the world whereas literates and intellectuals of different schools of the world were hosted to further enrich the world culture.

The King disclosed that this year "we are gearing forward to see a number of Russian intellectuals and the talented among the guests of Janadriyah festival".

Asked about the position of the government of the Kingdom towards women driving of vehicles similar to other gulf countries, the King said this matter could be considered a social decision as the role of the government is to provide the appropriate environment that matches with the Islamic Sharia law and its instructions on which the government is based.

He cited the role of the government in creating the appropriate job opportunities for Saudi women to become doctor, engineer, teacher, businesswoman, university professor, public or private sector official.

Asked about the Arab food and his favorites, the King said the food habits of the world's peoples were imposed by environmental and climatic circumstances of those peoples, as is the case for the Arab gulf people. But I am interested to know whether you like the Saudi menu, noting that the Kingdom's regions have each its own taste and varieties.

Asked about the love of hunting (using falcons) and camel and horse racing in his heart, the King told his interviewer that these sports are part of the Arab culture of which everybody is pound of. As is the case for everybody who belongs to my culture and society, I find myself interested in whatever associates me with the environment around myself.

Asked about the values he has acquired from living in the desert during his childhood, King Abdullah said living in the desert provides human beings with good faith, generosity, magnanimity, bravery, poetic spirit and fearing Allah the Almighty.

Known as the initiator for setting up giant public libraries in Riyadh and Casablanca, and known as fond of reading, as the interviewer put it, King Abdullah was asked about what kind of books he usually prefers to read and whether he keeps books authored by Russian writers in his private library.

In response to the question, King Abdullah said the first word inspired on our Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) was God's order to "read". Moreover, Quran is the marvel of Islam. So, reading is the natural start of every Muslim and knowledge is an integral part of the Muslim's psychological structure. We, in Saudi Arabia, have focused on developing this part as far as we could, the King said.

Immediately, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques invited the interviewer to visit King Abdul Aziz Center for Culture and Archives (Darat Al Malik Abdul Aziz) and King Fahd national library to see the diversified, wide-range and rich knowledge they are accommodating.

When going to read, I find myself attracted by whatever opens new doors for me to understand the human psychology, King Abdullah told the interviewer.

The last question was on the role of political power. How do you feel the taste of power, the interviewer asked.

In response to the question, King Abdullah said power is trustworthiness and responsibility. It is not only a force, influence or leverage that is used pass a decision, but also the responsibility of how you could draw a link between you and those you govern. Power is to embody the aspirations of the normal citizen in the street, understand the views of the elites, apprehend the details of the social texture of your society and conceive the relation between your country and people and the culture of the world around you and the world at large. Power is to represent all what others would like you to be. Power as you are carrying their concerns and dreams whenever and wherever you move or stay. You have to seek to live up to all this in your daily and future life. But, all this could never take place unless Allah Almighty provides His great help to you.

On the other hand the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz patronized in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the International King Faisal Award Ceremony.

The prize was awarded to Tatarstan's President Mintimer Shaimiev in recognition of his role in the service of Islam and Muslims.

The function was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General.

Speaking on the occasion, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, the Governor of Assir region, reiterated the keenness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in forging cooperation with others.

He noted that Tatarstan's President has been awarded the prize in recognition of his role in the service of the noble Islamic values.

On his part, President Shaimiev, who was nominated for the prize by the Consultative Council of Muftis in Russia, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), Qassim university and the academy of sciences in Tatarstan, for the International King Faisal Prize, thanked King Abdullah for delivering him the prestigious prize.

He noted that in the last 15 years the number of mosques in Tatarstan jumped from 23 to 1100, and the first Russian Islamic university was opened in Kazan.

After accepting the prestigious award from the king, Shaimiev said the prize was an acknowledgement of the reputation of the Russian Federation and its international role as well as its 20 million Muslims.

Shaimiev thanked King Abdullah, the King Faisal Foundation (KFF) and the jury for selecting him for the reputable award.

"I am receiving this award with great honor and immense pleasure," Shaimiev said.

He expressed satisfaction over growing Islamic awareness among Russians. He referred to his visit to the headquarters of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Jeddah last year and his meeting with OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

"I take this opportunity to express my appreciation and Muslims in my country toward your majesty and the Saudi people for your continuous support and concern," the Tatarstan President told King Abdullah. "As a result of the wise policies of your government and of the Russian Federation, our countries are getting closer," he added.

A panel of judges chaired by Crown Prince Sultan picked Shaimiev for the award last month. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, governor of Asir Province and director general of KFF, said Shaimiev was selected in appreciation of "his services to revive Islamic culture in his country, promoting Islamic studies among his people and reconstructing mosques that were destroyed in the past."

Prince Khaled, who is also the chairman of the King Faisal Prize committee, commended Shaimiev's wise and moderate policies, which he said had made Tatarstan an example for peaceful coexistence and a model for tolerance.

Shaimiev was reelected president of the country for a third term in March 2001. He is a member of the State Council of the Russian Federation and co-chair of the Higher Council of the United Russia party.

According to the citation read by Abdullah Al-Othaimeen, secretary-general of King Faisal International Prize, Shaimiev rebuilt 1,100 mosques in Tatarstan, set up presses to print the Holy Qur'an and Islamic books and established an Islamic university and several Islamic schools.

He said the Russian Shoura Council of Muftis, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Qasim University and the Academy of Sciences in Tatarstan nominated Shaimiev for the award.

KFF has also declared the winners of its other international prizes. Two professors from Egypt and Morocco shared the Arabic Language and Literature Prize, while two cancer experts from the US and Canada were named co-winners of the Medicine Prize.

The function was attended by Prince Miteb Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, other princes and senior officials.

Saudi Russian relations dates back to 1926 when the soviet union announced its recognition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Soviet Union was the first country to announce recognition of the kingdom.

In 1930 the Russian consulate in Jeddah was turned into an embassy, but in 1938 the Soviet Ambassador in Jeddah was recalled.

In 1990, the Saudi Russian diplomatic relations were restored.

In 1932, the late King Faisal visited the Soviet Union, and in 2003 the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, when he was the Crown Prince, paid a visit to Moscow.

During the visit of King Abdullah a cooperation agreement in the field of oil was signed between the Kingdom and Russia.

The visit of Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the governor of Riyadh region, to Moscow has positively contributed to further enhancing Saudi Russian relations.

The Saudi-Russian ties are not confined to economic and trade relations, but they also include cultural and sports relations.

In 1995 Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz chair for Islamic studies was opened at Moscow university, and in 2001 the Saudi Ambassador to Russia opened the Saudi pavilion at Moscow international book fair.

In 2002 the Russian humanitarian and social academy hosted the Saudi culture day.

In 2002, the Russian financial academy hosted a seminar on the Saudi Russian relations on "the past, present and future."

The seminar was organized by Riyadh-based King Faisal Research and Islamic Studies Center in Cooperation with Moscow-based international center for strategic and political studies on the occasion of the 70th anniversary for the visit of late King Faisal to Russia.

In 2003, the Saudi cultural day was inaugurated in Moscow.

The Saudi Academy in Moscow, established in 1992, has been playing a significant role in spreading Islamic and Arabic education and culture among the Arabs and Russian.

In the light of the existing Saudi Russian cooperation in the field of space, the Kingdom was able to launch a number of satellites into space.

In 2003, the agreement of information cooperation was signed between the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) and the Russian news agency, Itar-Tass.

In the sports sphere, a program for sports cooperation was signed by the general presidency for youth welfare and the federal agency for education and sports in Russia was signed during the visit of Prince Nawaf Bin Faisal Bin Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Vice-President of youth welfare, to Russia in may 2006.