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July 22, 2005 |
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THE SAUDI COUNCIL OF MINISTERS PURSUES WITH GREAT CONCERN THE CONTINUAL ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN IRAQ, THE ATTACKS INFLICTED BY ISRAEL ON THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND CITIES AND CALLS ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO BEAR ITS RESPONSIBILITY. THE CROWN PRINCE APPROVES THE ALLOCATION OF SR15 BILLION TO UNDERWRITE CREDIT FACILITIES TO BOOST NON-OIL EXPORTS. THE MEDICAL SERVICE AT THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE RECEIVES SR 7 MILLION FROM PRINCE SULTAN TO SET UP A HEARING AND SPEECH CENTER. THE FESTIVAL OF "SAUDI DAYS"IN MANCHESTER RECEIVES MORE THAN 35,000 VISITORS. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz has approved a number of decisions taken by the Higher Education Council (HEC) at its 36th session. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, the Minister of Higher Education Dr. Khalid Ibn Mohammed Al Anqari said the council approved the set up of a number of new colleges in some universities, citing the transfer of the Medical Sciences Department at the Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences at Ummul Qura University to an independent college carrying the name: Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, the change of the Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences to become the Faculty of Medicine, the independence of Medical Laboratories Department as part of the Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences. The Minister also reported that the HEC approved the establishment of a Faculty of Engineering in Sikaka as an affiliate of the Riyadh-based King Saud University, the transfer of the Medical Laboratories Sciences Department at Aljoaf-based Faculty of Science, an affiliate of King Saud University, to the Applied Medical Sciences Faculty, the transfer of the Computer Sciences Department at the Faculty of Sciences of King Saud University to an independent college carrying the name: Faculty of Computers and Information Technology. The minister added that the council approved the establishment of some departments in some universities, including the formation of Medical Genetics Department at the Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences at Ummul Qura University and the Mathematics Department and Physics Department at Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud University of Riyadh. The HEC also instructed that measures should be completed to open the Faculty of Society in Heraimla' Province, the minister said, adding that the council also decided to pay the graduates of faculties of medicine and dental colleges who complete their one-year-long general training course SR6000 monthly while the graduates of Health Sciences Colleges be paid SR2500 monthly at the end of their final training courses. The minister said a number of annual reports on the performance of some universities, including King Abdul Aziz University, King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals and King Faisal University, were also approved. On the other hand Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the 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 was briefed on a report of the latest developments at the Palestinian arena, particularly the violence and attacks inflicted by Israel on the Palestinian people and cities, Israel's breach of human rights, violation of international resolutions and destruction of infrastructure. The Cabinet called on the international community to pay attention to these Israeli aggressive practices and to shoulder its political, moral and humanitarian responsibility. On Iraq, the Cabinet pursued with great concern the continual acts of violence in Iraq, and condemned these ugly acts and their danger on Iraq's unity and future, calling on the Iraqi people to stand united with their government to isolate and renounce extremists, to reconstruct Iraq and to strengthen its stability and security. As for Lebanon, the Cabinet hoped that all national Lebanese forces agree on preserving Lebanon's unity and prosperity. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Ibn Amin Madani said that the Crown Prince informed the Cabinet of the outcome of contacts, meetings and consultations held over the previous days with a number of officials of brotherly and friendly countries including his meetings with Portugal's defense minister and the secretary general of the Arab League. On domestic affairs, the Crown Prince reviewed works achieved on a number of service projects which were approved in the first half of the current fiscal year. The contracts for these projects amounted to more than SR 13.288 billion, representing a great increase of nearly 47 percent in comparison with the sums approved for contracts over the same period in the previous fiscal year. The Crown Prince said that these projects aim at serving citizens in the sectors of health, education, roads, transportation and municipalities. He indicated that SR 15 billion has been allocated to the National Exports Program to provide credit facilities for financing and guaranteeing national exports through the Program affiliated to the Saudi Development Fund. Minister Madani concluded his statement saying that following the review of some local issues, the council issued the following decisions: First, The council approved a request by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation, Inspector General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Civil Aviation General Authority, to appoint the following people as members representing the private sector in the board of directors of the Civil Aviation General Authority for a period of three years: 1- Mr. Ibrahim Ibnn Mohammad Ibn Ibrahim Alisa, 2- Eng. Mohammad Ibn Omran Al Omran, 3- Mr. Khalid Ibn Mohammad Ibn Saad Al Bwardi. Second, The Council of Ministers approved the Regulation on Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances. A royal decree was prepared for this regulation. The most prominent features of this regulation include: 1- The regulation identified the crimes whose perpetrators can be pursued and prosecuted by the concerned authorities in the kingdom. 2- The regulation stated that no case will be filed against any user or addict of narcotics or psychotropic substances if he or a relative of him sought treatment for him. The regulation stated that the addict should be treated in total secrecy and his identity and data should be kept confidential. The regulation penalizes those concerned with the data for divulging any identifying information. 3- The ministries of Interior, Justice and Health shall prepare the executive law of the regulation and the law shall be issued through a decision by the Council of Ministers. Third, Approval of the authorization of the governor of Investment General Authority or his deputy to sign a draft agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Spain on promotion and mutual protection of investments in line with the version attached with the decision. The final signed draft should be then forward to the Cabinet for further authentication. The main features of the draft agreement include: 1- Each contracting party in their jurisdiction shall promote the investment of the other contracting party's investors as much as possible and shall ensure each contracting party the possibility of investing in accordance with their respective laws and legislations. 2- Each contracting party guarantees for investors of the other contracting party a free transfer of all payments relating to investments possessed by them in the region of the other contracting party including capital, investment revenues and amounts for paying loans or settling any dispute. 3- This agreement is valid for 10 years and is automatically renewable for the same period unless one of the contracting parties notifies the other of terminating it. The termination will be effective after one year of notification. Fourth, The appointment of Ali Ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Sibiheen, the Director General of the National Company for Cooperative Insurance as Representative of Cooperative Insurance Companies at Cooperative Health Guarantee Council in the current session replacing Moussa Ibn Abdul Kareem Al-Rubie'an who retired. Fifth, The appointment of nine members at the board of directors of the General Organization of Social Insurance effective from 29/6/1426H. Sixth, The Cabinet approved one transfer and two appointments at the 14th grade. Meanwhile Saudi Arabia has allocated SR15 billion to underwrite credit facilities to boost non-oil exports. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul-Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard approved a decision by the board of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD). Finance Minister Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf, who is chairman of SFD, said that the new financial resources would be used to provide credit facilities to finance national exports. Dr. Al-Assaf also urged non-registered foundations to register at the Exports Program. Dr Al-Assaf said that the Saudi Export Program (SEP) began offering its services to non-oil national exports four years ago. More than 300 Saudi exporters have so far registered with SEP, which has approved finances and guarantees worth SR2 billion to importers of Saudi products in more than 30 countries in Asia, Africa, North America, Europe and Australia. These exports so far included petrochemicals, plastics, agricultural equipment, construction products and equipment, metallic and food products, the Finance minister said. Dr. Al-Assaf said the SFD was working hard to increase the size of national exports. "In addition to its direct role of financing and guaranteeing exports, the fund has signed several cooperation agreements with banks, companies and international institutions for financing and guaranteeing Saudi exports," he explained. Some of the institutions the SFD signed agreements with include Arabian Investment Company, Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation, Arab Monetary Fund, Islamic Development Bank, the Saudi-Sudanese Bank, El-Neelain Industrial Development Bank, Omdurman National Bank, Khartoum Bank, Export and Finance Bank in Jordan, Yemen's National Commercial and Investment Bank, Algerian National Bank, Tunisia's Al-Aman Bank, the Byblos Bank in Lebanon and the Central Bank of Iran. Dr Al-Assaf urged agencies which have not yet registered to join the program and benefit from its services. Commenting on the Crown Prince's approval of the allocation of the amount, economist Dr. Ihsan Bu-Hulaiga said "This will definitely help Saudi exports." "The goal is to diversify the country's economic resources by promoting non-oil exports. This has been the aim of the latest development plans and we have seen a 10 percent increase in non-oil exports during the past few years," Bu-Hulaiga said. "Our current exports of petrochemicals, food products, plastic and others have earned a good reputation in the countries they are being exported to," Bu-Hulaiga said. Even though many of the industries and products are oil-based, Bu-Hulaiga pointed out that this is our competitive advantage and we have been able to expand in other industries such as the refining industries in Saudi Aramco, for example. "This program is necessary to bolster our competitive ability abroad and with the approaching date of joining the World Trade Organization it will improve and support our products' competitiveness," he explained. In addition, he said that this expansion in industries will create more job opportunities and this would need human resources, better administrative skills and methods. "I think the private sector would benefit a lot from the program and the private sector is always seeking to increase its exports. What the fund and the program can do is not only provide financing but also provide what is called 'soft infrastructure' such as information and easier procedures," he said. He suggested that the program could be transformed into an independent authority to provide complete services and support, financial and otherwise. "Saudi exporters might be small now, but by increasing their awareness of how to reach markets and produce quality products they can develop and compete, and this would need a competent administrative crew," he said. On another scale the Ministry of Defence medical services have received the land that will be used to build the hearing and speech center in Taif, donated by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General for more than SR 7 million. The Director of the Hearing and Speech center Dr Khalid Ibn Mohamed Assiri said the project will provide unique services to students with special need and the center will be a very specialized center in Taif and its surrounding areas. On the other hand a program aiming at protecting the environment in Makkah region was launched. The start of the program, organized by the Supreme Commission for Tourism in cooperation with other parties, was attended by Prince Sultan Ibn Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Secretary General of the commission and Prince Mishaal Ibn Majid Ibn Abdul Aziz, Governor of Jeddah. In a press statement on the occasion, Prince Sultan Ibn Salman and Prince Mishaal talked about the activities of the program including next week's cleaning of the coral reefs of Jeddah's coastline. In Manchester more than 35,000 Britons visited the venue of the festival of "Saudi Days" which concluded its six-day. Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi ambassador the United Kingdom and Ireland, expressed happiness for the success attained by the festival and the exhibitions organized on its fringes, and said the festival had successfully enabled the Britons to get acquainted with aspects of life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He expressed appreciation for the companies and establishments which had contributed to financing the festival like Orbit for the Television Channels, and Saudi Aramco. He noted that the festival had attracted more than 35,000 visitors, adding that the festival will be organized in other British cities. People were taking great interest in the week-long Saudi festival at Heaton Park which was inaugurated by Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Festival 'Saudi Days Festival's activities' is an unique occasion to be acquaint with the cultural, traditions and value of the Kingdom. Prince Turki toured the Festival and talked to visitors about their impressions of the Festival's contents and shows. A number of ambassadors of Arab and Islamic countries also visited the Festival and lauded the initiative of holding the Saudi Days Festival in Manchester. Princess Nouf bint Fahd bin Khalid, wife of Prince Turki Al-Faisal, held a luncheon in honor of the wives of the Arab ambassadors who visited the Festival's pavilions. Some visitors looked forward to visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to find out more about its culture and customs. In a press statement, Prince Saud Ibn Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Saudi Ambassador to Spain said he was happy to be there at the inaugural ceremony and praised the organization and preparation for the Festival. He commended the great efforts exerted by the Saudi Embassy, under the directives of Prince Turki Al-Faisal, to convey to the British people an idea of Saudi Arabia's culture and heritage. The Mayor of Manchester, Lord Mohammed Afzal Khan, has praised the cultural exhibition at the Saudi festival now in progress in Manchester. He told the Saudi Press Agency that this festival added to the city's many attractions, noting the enormous efforts made by Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland. "We are proud of the developing relations between the city of Manchester and Saudi Arabia" Khan added. The festival continued till Sunday, 17th July. Heaton Park and Saudi Arabia couldn't be more different, but for a few days, the park hosted the festival dedicated to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Ambassador to the UK, explained why the venue had become "a small oasis" in Manchester. Prince Turki says that Manchester is the perfect place for the Saudi Arabian Days festival because its a "very ecumenical city, where a quarter of the population are Muslims. Hence what more natural place to hold a Saudi Arabian festival?" With dance, music, camel rides, photography exhibitions and some of the Kingdom's arts and crafts, it promises to be a great festival, complete with a Bedouin village that showcases the warmth and hospitality of the desert people. Alongside the fun, Prince Turki sees the festival as a chance for people, particularly children, to learn more about Saudi culture as "young children everywhere are open-minded about what they learn, and who like and don't like. Young people are the place to go because they are the future." It's not all for purely educational reasons though, as it's also a chance to sell the idea of visiting Saudi Arabia to more people than simply the Muslims who go on Hajj to Mecca. As he says, "it's a secondary aim of this festival. In the Kingdom, we're still developing our tourist industry, but if we get more visitors to our country, they'll be able to see the Kingdom in its real situation, rather than simply reading about it in the press or seeing small news items on the television. I think that there is a lot of misconception and misinformation about Saudi Arabia, simply because people don't know that much about the Kingdom. One of the reasons for holding the festival is so that people find out more about Saudi Arabia." With the sunshine beating down, a few camels and a bit of imagination and who knows? Heaton Park might just pass for a suburb of Riyadh. Stockport played host to a royal visit when the Saudi Arabian ambassador paid a special visit to North Reddish Junior School. Prince Turki Al-Faisal was welcomed by the primary school on the eve of the largest Saudi Arabian festival ever to be held in Britain, which was staged in Heaton Park. North Reddish was singled out by the prince for a visit, as it is the only school in the UK to be linked with a Saudi school. For the last eight years the pupils in Reddish have been emailing children at the Al-Anjal school, in Jeddah, and only last year welcomed a group of boys, who had travelled from the Saudi to meet their Stockport friends. Prince Turki Al-Faisal is now keen to explore to possibility of pupils from North Reddish making a return trip. The Saudi Ambassador said: "The link between North Reddish Junior School and Al-Anjal is important because it is bringing the children together. "It shows them that although they are from different backgrounds and parts of the world they have so many things in common, whether that be at school or at home." Addressing pupils at the school Prince Turki talked of how he hoped further contacts and friendships similar to that of North Reddish and Al-Anjal could be made in the future. The festival, called Saudi Arabian Days, was one of the Saudi Embassy's first steps in trying to achieve this goal. Prince Turki said: "People have legitimate concerns about Saudi Arabia as they see headlines in the paper and on TV about terrorism and Saudi Arabia but they don't know the people or the place. "This festival will hopefully dispel much of the fog that is enveloping the name of Saudi Arabia. "It is about bringing Saudi Arabia to them to people for them to touch in person. Then they can come and see the country for themselves." Saudi Arabian Days was a free event, boasting all aspects of Saudi Arabian culture, and run from July 14-17. Hundreds of schoolchildren got a flavour of life in Saudi Arabia at the festival of the Kingdom's culture in Manchester. Saudi Arabia Days, at the city's historic Heaton Park on July 13-17, has attracted a large number of visitors and many families, who have been keen to understand and learn about the Kingdom at the event which organizers hope will break down cultural barriers. Many aspects of Saudi life were being presented so visitors could get first-hand experience, from Saudi costume, music and dancing, through to displays of traditional arts and crafts, falconry, and Saudi food. Schoolchildren have also been taught about the modern Saudi Arabia with fun and interactive exhibitions on oil and how it powers the world, and on Islam, and wildlife. Many schoolchildren have also been dressing up Saudi style and have had photographs taken of them in a Bedouin tent. Prince Turki Al-Faisal said to the newspaper, "This festival will hopefully dispel much of the fog that is enveloping the name of Saudi Arabia. It is about bringing Saudi Arabia to people for them to touch in person. Then they can come and see the country for themselves." More than 35,000 visitors experienced Saudi hospitality, which was described by one visitor as "a real party atmosphere, with lots to do and see," she said, adding that she had enjoyed the displays of women's marriage costumes, and the "enthusiastic dancing," of some of the Saudi men the most. Saudi women have also put on art and sculpture displays at the event. In the evening, after the event which runs from 10am-6pm, a series of lectures was also being held to give a more in-depth look at life inside the Kingdom. Dr Lubna Al Ansari gave a first-hand account of the role of women in the country and remove some of the myths about their lives. The last lecture was an analysis by Dr Ahmed Seif Eddine on current religious issues that face the world. |
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