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April 2, 2004 |
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PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL AFTER HIS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MUBARAK: NO SAUDI-SYRIAN DIFFERENCES ON REFORMS. AMR MOUSSA: THE SUMMIT COULD BE HELD IN FEW WEEKS AND IDEAS ABOUT THE REFORMS HAVE CRYSTALLIZED IN TUNISIA. ON BEHALF OF THE SECOND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER PRINCE KHALID IBN SULTAN OPENS THE 4TH FORUM OF THE GULF DISABILITY SOCIETY. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard chaired the Cabinet's weekly session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh. At the outset of the session, the Cabinet discussed the postponement of the Arab Summit which was about to be held in Tunisia. Crown Prince Abdullah emphasized that the Arab nation is in dire need to looking forward not backward and to hold consultations among Arab countries to facilitate all appropriate conditions and all necessary preparations for the Summit to convene at the earliest opportunity. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Fuad Ibn Abdul Salam Al-Farsi pointed out that the Cabinet was briefed on the contents of meetings, contacts and consultations held in the previous days with some leaders and officials of brotherly and friendly countries which focused on the latest developments in the region and the world. The Crown Prince informed the Cabinet of the current situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, Israel's incessant aggressive practices against the Palestinian people and their national symbols, and the consequences of these practices on the explosive situation in Palestine. Crown Prince Abdullah called again upon the world community to put an end to Israel's inhuman practices and blatant aggressions against the Palestinian people and to force it to comply with international resolutions. The Crown Prince noted that Israel has been encouraged to persist in its aggressive actions and to seek the abortion of any endeavors to achieve peace in the region owing to the non-existence of an international firm and strict stance against it. On domestic affairs, the Cabinet reviewed the development of girls' education in the Kingdom. In public education, the number of female students has amounted to more than 2.3 million. The Cabinet noted the directive of the Crown Prince to transform Girls Colleges in Riyadh into a university within the framework of support and attention paid by the government under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz for providing education to all citizens. The Cabinet stressed that the government has been proceeding on this track to further advance this important sector for the interest of the Kingdom and its citizens. Dr. Al-Farsi said the Cabinet then reviewed the domestic items on its agenda and took the following decisions: According to the Cabinet's minutes, the Minister of Interior or his deputy was authorized to sign the agreement on cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in the field of extradition of accused and convicted individuals. The originals of the agreement will be forwarded for further documentation. The Cabinet also authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs or his deputy to sign the general framework arrangement on cooperation between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Albania in the economic, commercial, investment, technical, cultural, sports and youth fields. The originals of the agreement will be forwarded for further documentation. The Cabinet also authorized the Minister of Finance or his deputy to discuss and sign the agreement on cooperation in the field of customs between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Yemen. The originals of the agreement will be forwarded for further documentation. The Cabinet decided the accession of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the World Health Organization's Anti-tobacco framework agreement. The Cabinet approved the appointment of Abdul Rahman Ibn Mohammed Ibn Abdullah Al Dahmash as Consultant for Technical Affairs at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Dr. Saad Ibn Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdullah Al'ammar as Ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Salih Ibn Abdul Rahman Ibn Salih Al Amro as Deputy Governor for Development at the General Corporation for Technical Education and Vocational Training; and Adnan Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Wahab as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the other hand Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, paid a personal visit to Siamese Filipino twins, Mae and Ann, who were separated in a surgery recently carried out by a Saudi medical team, led by Dr Abdullah Al-Rabeeah at King Abdul Aziz Medical City of the National Guard. The Crown Prince was reassured of the twins' stable health condition, praising the medical team for its success in the surgery. On the other hand President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt has described the unilateral decision taken by Tunisia to postpone convening the Arab summit as an unjustified step. The Middle East News Agency MENA quoted Mubarak as saying that the attempt of a certain side to impose its views unilaterally without consultations with other is an unacceptable matter. The Egyptian President stressed that the summit might be held within two or three weeks, noting that all Arab leaders are waiting for the summit and its postponement was a shock for him and others. He indicated that Egypt does not oppose the convening of the summit in Tunisia if the Arab leaders want that. These statements coincided with a declaration made by the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz that he will be meeting with the Egyptian President at Sharm Esh Sheikh resort in order to discuss means for reaching an Arab agreement on the date and venue of the summit. In al-Rabat, the Moroccan News agency said that the Moroccan King Muhammad VI telephoned Mubarak and stressed the need to convening the summit as soon as possible. Mubarak also met with the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and the Secretary General of the Arab league Amr Moussa in Cairo in the context of the efforts to define a new date for the summit. Moussa said he will make a tour in the Arab capitals in the few coming days in order to discuss plans for convening the summit which he said will be held between three and seven weeks. The current President of the Iraqi Interim governing council Muhammad Baher al-Oloum said that Iraq is ready to take part in an Arab summit to be held in Cairo if it is invited. He expressed his regret over what had happened in Tunisia. For its part, Kuwait expressed its support for convening an Arab summit as soon as possible. Meantime, Tunisia, renewed its cling to host and preside over the Arab summit and urged the Arab foreign ministers to meet at the headquarters of the Arab league in Cairo to crystallize a common position towards main issues due to be submitted to the Arab leaders at the summit. The Tunisian foreign minister al-Habib Bin Yahya quoted the Tunisian President Zine al-Abidin Ben Ali as conforming his country's care to continue consultations and coordination until harmony is achieved on matters of destiny debated before the summit. President Hosni Mubarak has welcomed the convening of the Arab Summit in Cairo for containing repercussions of the Tunisian decision to adjourn the Arab Summit which was scheduled to open in Tunis. The President said that he was shocked by the Tunisian decision to adjourn the summit. President Hosni Mubarak said that he was surprised by the Tunisian decision to adjourn the summit, expressing his displeasure with the statement made by Tunisia reflecting its insistence on convening the summit on its territories. The President said that the decision to convene the Arab Summit once more on its territories is something that should be agreed on by Arab kings and heads of state. The President criticized the unilateral decision taken by the Tunisian government without consulting the members of the Arab League. On disagreements which emerged among the Arab foreign ministers during their meetings in Tunisia, the President said that there are no intractable problems adding that all problems could be surmounted. The President was also surprised over the emergence of many reform initiatives before the convening of the Arab Summit. The President called on the Arab street not to lose hope saying that the success of the Arab Summit is inescapable. Egypt has welcomed hosting the Arab Summit in its capacity as the Arab League headquarters at the earliest possible time to be agreed upon after Tunisia had decided to adjourn the summit. Few hours after the adjournment of the Arab Summit, President Mubarak had intensive contacts on the steps that should be taken for containing the implications of the adjournment of the 16th Arab Summit which was due to open in Tunis. Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz , the Saudi Crown Prince received a telephone call from President Mubarak. King Abdullah II of Jordan welcomed Egypt's invitation to host the Arab Summit, stressing the need for holding the summit as soon as possible in a telephone conversation with President Mubarak. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, arrived in Cairo on a brief visit to Egypt. Prince Saud was scheduled to confer with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and to hold talks with his Egyptian Counterpart Ahmad Maher on the latest developments at the Arab arena. He was welcomed at Cairo International Airport by Saudi ambassador to Egypt Ibrahim Ibn Saad Al-Brahim and a number of officials. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak received Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister. The meeting was attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher, Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Ibrahim Al-Brahim and Khaled Al-Jindan, the Director of the Arab Administration at the Foreign Ministry. Egypt wants an Arab summit to be held within three weeks, and believes Tunisia's cancellation of the summit that was to have started last Monday was utterly unwarranted, President Hosni Mubarak has said. "There is no justification for delaying the summit, and for one party imposing its views unilaterally without consulting others," Mubarak told Orbit television in an interview. Mubarak discussed the new bid to hold a summit with the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, and Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa. Afterward, Prince Saud told reporters the priority was "how to hold a decisive summit to tackle the problems we are facing." Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, said the document presented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria, and approved at the meeting of Cairo is in a 'healthy and good' condition. In a press statement following a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Prince Saud said some proposals presented by Arab countries during the meeting of the Arab Foreign Ministers in Tunis for enhancing the document, have been accepted. He reiterated the keenness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on its participation in Arab summits. 'Let us put aside what had happened in Tunis and look forward for resolutions that could positively contribute to the activation of the joint Arab work and solidify the Arab stance at the international arena in a manner that enables the Arabs to face their major problems either in Palestine or Iraq', Prince Saud elaborated. Underscoring the importance of convening the Arab summit, Prince Saud said the current circumstances make it necessary to hold the summit as soon as possible. On his part, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher denied reports which said that April 14 has been fixed as the new date for the Arab summit, and said fixing of the new date should be left to the Arab leaders. He noted that no Arab country supports cancellation of the Arab summit. Maher pointed out that the meeting of Prince Saud Al-Faisal with President Mubarak had underscored the importance of broadening the scope of consultations among the Arab parties. Meanwhile, Prince Saud Al-Faisal left Cairo this afternoon following a short visit to Egypt. He was seen off at Cairo's International Airport by a number of high-ranking officials. President Hosni Mubarak had a series of meetings and contacts with the Arab leaders on Egypt's hosting the Arab Summit in its capacity as the headquarters of the Arab League as soon as possible following the decision by Tunisia to adjourn the summit. President Mubarak had a telephone conversation yesterday with Colonel Muammer Gaddafi, the leader of the Libyan Revolution. President Mubarak received at the Presidential Palace in Heliopolis Dr. Omar Zawawi, the advisor to Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman. He later received Prince Saud Al Faisal, the Saudi Foreign Minister. The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa. Emerging from the meeting, Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal came to Cairo as part of inter-Arab consultations to "surmount what happened in Tunis." Commenting on the postponed Tunis Arab Summit, he told the press after President Mubarak received the Saudi Prince: "We must put what happened in Tunis behind our backs and look towards the future." "What happened in Tunis was not a crack but something we want to surmount," he said. Maher termed the Mubarak-Faisal talks as useful exchanging the Egyptian and Saudi views on Tunis' postponement of the summit. They agreed on the need to widen the circle of consultations to include all Arab countries and to proceed forward, he said. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, on his part, also echoed Maher's wish. "We must forget about what happened and look towards the future to take the decisions that will be in the interest of the Arab world and boost the Arab position to enable us to face our main issues whether the Palestinian or the Iraqi ones, he said. No effort will ever succeed unless the endeavors of all Arab states are concerted, he added. Asked why nothing was mentioned on the paper Saudi Arabia presented to the Tunis meetings, he said it was not a Saudi paper, it was an Egyptian-Saudi-Syrian one that was endorsed at the foreign ministerial meetings in Cairo. Tunis proposed some items and they were added to the paper at the Tunis meetings, he said. Asked on the nature of consultations in the coming phase, Maher said Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa will embark on an Arab tour next week to work on holding the summit as soon as possible. Consultations on the summit in the coming phase will be bilateral, trilateral, or on the foreign ministerial level together with the Secretary General of the Arab League, he added. On the date of the Arab Summit, he said all dates mentioned so far are not definite and mere proposals. The summit dates are set via consultations among Arab leaders, he said, adding that no Arab country wants to see the summit cancelled. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, on his part, said all Arab governments are engaged in contacts and are working on confronting the problems. Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh telephoned President Mubarak and affirmed the need to hold the Arab Summit within days at the Arab League (AL) headquarters in Cairo. President Saleh telephoned Mubarak to consult on the repercussions of the postponement of the 16th Arab Summit. The official Yemeni News Agency quoted President Saleh as saying that no country had any right to take the decision to delay or cancel the summit. The very acute and sensitive phase and the serious challenges to the Arab nation call for a responsible action and deep understanding of the schemes against the nation, he said. A joint Arab vision, genuine solidarity and the activation of joint Arab action are a must to respond to all the changes and conditions facing the nation and the region, he added. "President Mubarak's talks with King Hamad Ibn Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, the current President of the Arab Summit, fall within consultations with Arab leaders to prepare for the Arab Summit," said Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher. At a press conference following talks with Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath, Maher said President Mubarak was briefed on a report during a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal on the agenda of the foreign ministers' meeting in Tunis and the following announced postponement of the summit. He said he received instructions from President Mubarak to contact Arab foreign ministers to discuss ways to convene the summit. He dismissed any differences between Egypt and Tunisia, adding that Egypt will not allow any differences. The new meetings preparing for the summit will start from the point where they had left off in Tunis, now that 99 percent of the Arab reform draft was approved, said Maher. He said the date and venue of the summit is the theme of consultations at the highest level, noting that the coming summit will be chaired by Tunisia as stipulated by the Arab League Charter. Discussion of some issues during the meeting is the paradigm of democracy as everyone is entitled to express their views in the way they deem appropriate and accordingly we reach a unified decision, said Maher. On his part, Shaath said his talks with Maher tackled efforts exerted to reach a formula to rescue the Arab summit. He said the Palestinians view the necessity of convening the Arab summit under the leadership of Tunisia, whether being held in Tunisia or in Egypt, the pan-Arab organization host country. The summit must be held as soon as possible in early May at the most in order to solve the problems and avoid further aggravations, said Shaath. It has to function as a springboard for a strong unified Arab action standing up against the Israeli policies and supporting the Palestinian people, he said. Shaath called on the Arab leaders not to wait for the summit to fulfil their commitments towards the Palestinian people. The Arab Summit will be held within the next three to seven weeks, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said following a meeting with President Hosni Mubarak. Moussa held bilateral talks with Mubarak following the three-way session of talks that involved them both together with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal. The talks were attended by Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher. The Arab nation must find a way to get through its present delicate and highly-sensitive juncture, Moussa told reporters. He described Egypt's offer to host the Arab Summit at the AL headquarters in Cairo instead of Tunis as a very important issue for the current dangerous situation, not only in the Arab nation but also worldwide. This makes it an imperative that the Arab leaders get together as early as possible. "The Arab leaders agenda is concise but it is truly heavy and they will have to meet one way or another to agree on a unified stance as regards hot issues on their agenda," Moussa said. Besides the vital Arab reforms, Tunis Arab Summit was supposed to address the current volatile conditions in the Palestinian lands, especially after Israel's assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmad Yassin. Tunisia and Egypt are two sisterly countries and "we do not accept any cracks in the Arab wall or cast any doubts on the Arab national stances," added Moussa. Any Arab disagreement has to be contained, said Moussa, denying purported reports that Tunisian President Zine Al Abidin Bin Ali refused to meet him or to meet Arab ministers after the postponement of the summit. On his part, Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath expressed his happiness with Egypt's offer to host the summit, noting that Egypt provides the safety net for the pan-Arab work, noting that this will be in coordination with Tunisia. Shaath said the Palestinian people are in need of the summit because they cannot tolerate continuation of the Arab differences over two issues, one is the Palestinian cause and the other the restructuring of the Arab League to boost its ability to back the Palestinian people. When asked about the Tunisian insistence to host the summit once another date is set for it, Moussa said that basically the venue where any Arab Summit should be held is the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. This is the common rule unless an Arab country showed a desire to host the summit for a change, he said. He said that the coming summit will pick up from where the talks were left off in Tunis. This means that time would not be wasted in discussing topics that were already debated and endorsed during the pre-summit talks in Tunisia. The AL Chief believes that the plans will win unanimous approval once they are fully discussed. For its part, the United Arab Emirates announced its support to convening the postponed Arab summit in Cairo. The UAE news agency quoted the UAE foreign minister Rashed Abdullah Al-Naimi as saying that his country highly appreciates the initiative made by the Egyptian President which he had described as important. Al-Naimi also denied that the postponement of the summit came as a result of differences over reforms in the Arab homeland, noting that the decision was taken by Tunisia for its own considerations. Rashed Abdullah Al Naimi, the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates said the UAE appreciates President Mubarak's initiative describing President Mubarak's decision to host the summit as a wise decision. In statements upon arrival, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashed Ibn Abdullah Al-Naimi said that the UAE appreciates Mubarak's initiative, terming it as both "important" and "wise". Al Naimi added that the Arab leaders first decided to hold the Arab Summit regularly, with Cairo as its venue, unless the main host country requests holding it. Accordingly, Egypt's request to host the summit was natural, in view of its role in the area. He reiterated the Arab ministers need to resume the talks they held over the past weeks. Al Naimi revealed that the postponement of the summit was not actually due to the paper of reform. The reform paper was indeed approved by almost all the Arab countries before Tunisia announced the decision, said Al Naimi It was, in fact, prompted by special Tunisian considerations, he added. Over 90 per cent of the issues that were supposed to be addressed by the summit were almost agreed upon, he said, adding that these issues are essential for the reform of the Arab world. These decisions required deep and frank dialogues and taking the views of every country into account, added the UAE top diplomat. The Moroccan Government has voiced "regret" over the postponement of the Arab Summit that was due today in Tunis, minister of communication and Government spokesman Nabil Abdallah. The Government, he added, has called for "speeding up efforts to hold, as soon as possible, this summit under the Tunisian chairmanship." "We can only call for more consultations and coordination on the draft resolutions to be submitted to this summit, in total respect of each country's advice," said the minister at a briefing following a Cabinet meeting. Jordan said it regrets the postponement of the Arab summit in Tunis hours before it was due to open. "We regret the postponement of the summit and hope the Arab League will call a new summit as early as possible," Jordanian government spokesperson Asma Khodr said. "We consider that the subjects on the agenda and the expectations of the Arab peoples are important," she said, adding, "the current situation requires the urgent holding of an Arab conference." Following a meeting with Obeid, French Ambassador Philippe Lecourtier told reporters: "We can do nothing as long as the Arab world has not expressed its views, and it should come out with its proposals and ideas." On the other hand and on behalf of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General and President of the Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud charitable foundation, Prince Khalid Ibn Sultan Assistant Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, has opened the fourth forum of the Gulf Disability Society titled "People with Special Needs. From Diagnosis to Employment" organized in Riyadh on March 29-31, 2004 by Al-Nahda Charitable Society with the sponsorship of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Charitable Foundation. Al Nahda Philanthropic Society for women was established by Princess Sara Al Faisal Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud in 1382H / 1962G. Aiming at serving the Saudi Society through the enhancement and development of women's abilities and organizing a sufficient charitable voluntary code to help achieve the national development plans. The Society offers its services through specialized centers in the fields of training and developing, social services, rehabilitation, special education, heritage, health awareness and employment. The ceremony started with readings from the Holy Quran then the speech of the Gulf Disability Society was delivered on behalf Sheikh Doiagh Ibn Khalifa Al Khalifa by Dr Mohammed Ibn Abdul Kareem Al Manei. Following is the speech of Sheikh Doiagh Ibn Khalifa AL-Khalifa: On the occasion of the fourth convention of the Gulf Disability Society, I wish to state what Almighty God says: " Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not another in sin rancor, Fear Allah: for Allah is strict in punishment, (Surat Al-Ma'ida 2). In accordance to Almighty God Saying our Holy God endorse us, the cooperation of the beneficence, and the force of wickedness between us, in different aspects of life. Upon this basis the Gulf Disability Society, has been established, to offer its efforts and to support all different societies and handicap centers in the Gulf Arab States. The most important objectives of the Society, is to unify the cooperation of the Gulf Disability Society, and all other concerned personnel of handicap affairs, under one ceiling of cooperative efforts, for serving special needs persons in our Dear Gulf, in accordance to the principal of beneficences. Our present meeting, is considered a new step to achieve the objectives, through the approval of ingrained of Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud Foundation who is sponsoring this forum, and by Al-Nahda Philanthropic Society of Woman who is organizing the forum, and we consider this efforts as an order of merit to our Society, and to all the members of the Arab Countries. I hope that the gracious reader could remember the three previous meetings, held by our Society, in Manama, Shargah, and Doha, and remember the great offerings to all the attendants of the meetings, especially the specialists and parents. We hope Almighty God offers everyone the most benefits of attending the meeting, and that we reach by the end of our assembly. the responsibilities and the challenges, which enable us to make our future meetings, not Less in its standard than what we are dealing and doing in our fourth meetings. I wish to state by myself and on behalf of members of board of directors, and all the staff members of the Society, to offer our best gratitudes to everyone who contribute to realize the factual occurrence of our meeting. In fact before the arrangements of this meetings different assembles were held by different members of specialists, technical and administrators, who offer a great deal of time and effort, with the hope of the success of this meeting. I have to ask almighty God to reward them upon what they offer, in the oay whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail. Brothers and sisters, members of the Gulf Disability Society, this assembly is yours, and it reflects your activities, and the success is based upon your interactions, contributions, and cooperation. At Last, I wish to offer my best thanks to Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz AL-Saud Foundation for sponsoring this assembly. My best greetings to his excellency the general director of the foundation Dr. Majid Ibn Abdullah EL-Kassabi, who supervised and followed up all the steps of this assembly. And to AL-Nahda Philanthropic Society for Women, who mobilized all its facilities for the success of the assembly. Peace be upon all of you, and mercy of Allah and blessings. In her speech Princess Sarah bint Faisal said Islam guarantees equal rights for all members of society "Everybody has the same rights and obligations. We'll all be responsible before Allah for this," she said. Princess Sarah praised the successful experiences that proved that once people in need are given care and training they succeed in becoming independent and active members of the society. The Minister of Education Dr Mohammed Ibn Ali Al Rasheed said the degree of the progress of a society was largely measured by the services it provides to citizens, especially people with special needs, mentioning the Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Foundation efforts in this field. "Islam has guaranteed such people their rights and commanded us to care for them and attend to their needs," the Minister said. He emphasized the role of private organizations in supporting the handicapped and said that the Ministry has implemented a successful experiment when children with special needs joined general education schools. In the case of children with special need the Minister said individuals can make a difference in a number of ways, especially by raising awareness and spreading the word that people with the condition have rights and can play a valuable role in society. Then the Minister of Labour Dr Ali Ibn Ibrahim Al Namla deliverd a speech in which he welcomed the attendance and stressed that clause 54 of the employment law states that each employer who has 50 or more employees should employ people with special needs on a basis of 2% from the total number of employees. Prince Khalid Ibn Sultan then delivered a speech in which he praised the attendance and said that through reading the recommendations and the minutes of the meeting of the three previous forums he has noted few points that might be beneficial> Prince Khalid said the first point concerns the individuals since they are born and throughout their lives. The second point the Prince said is the care given at home, school, charitable societies and the government, while the third point is the degree of disability and the care it require. At the end of his speech Prince Khalid watched a documentary on the services provided by the society and handed over memorial gifts to the organizers of the event the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Education, while Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Turki Al-Faisal received the gift of the Gulf Disability Society. Prince Khalid Ibn Sultan was then presented with a memorial gift and praised the Prince Sultan Charitable Foundation stressing that it educates people on ways of dealing with those with special needs. Answering question Prince Khalid said that Seif Al Salam 5 are an annual event that take place with the cooperation of a number of brigade under the directives of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, who is always keen on keeping up with training and exercises. Meanwhile Dr Majed Al-Kasbi, the Director General of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Charitable Foundation, said the participants of the forum reviewed issues pertaining to disability including preventive measures against disability and rehabilitation programs for the handicapped. On the fringes the forum, attended by a number of regional and international experts, a show was organized to display medical equipment used for the treatment of the handicapped. On his part, Dr Nasser Al-Mousa, the Supervisor General of the Administration of Special Education at the Education Ministry, highlighted the great attention given by the Saudi officials to the handicapped. He noted that a Royal order was earlier issued for establishing a higher council for the affairs of the handicapped under the chairmanship of Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard. Dr Al-Mousa pointed out that, according to a research conducted by Riyadh-based Prince Salman Center for Disability Research, the rate of disability in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia amounts to 6.83 percent among the under-16 children. He added that 'but according to reports of the World Health Organization (WHO) the rate of disability among the children in other places amounts to about ten percent'. On the other hand the 4th Forum of the Gulf Society for the Handicapped concluded its activities. The Forum recommended to develop legislation, regulations and laws pertaining to the Handicapped; diagnosis, rehabilitation and educational programs; strategy of employment of the handicapped and information policies and strategies to serve persons of the special needs in member countries of Gulf Cooperation Council. The Forum was organized by Riyadh-based Al-Nahdha Woman Society under the patronage of Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Charitable Foundation. |
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