October 14, 2005

THE SAUDI LEADERSHIP REVIEWS WITH PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK THE DEVELOPMENTS ON THE REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARENAS. KING ABDULLAH AND CROWN PRINCE SULTAN REVIEW WITH THE U.S. FOREIGN SECRETARY'S COORDINATOR FOR IRAQI AFFAIRS THE SITUATION IN IRAQ. THE SAUDI COUNCIL OF MINISTERS STRESSES ITS SUPPORT FOR IRAQ'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, SAFETY AND INDEPENDENCE. THE CABINET STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PALESTINIANS UNITY. PRINCE SALMAN LAUNCHES THE SECOND CHARITABLE HOUSING PROJECT IN BADEEA. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz held a meeting at his palace in Jeddah with President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. At the outset of the meeting, King Abdullah welcomed President Mubarak and his accompanying delegation, wishing them a good stay in the Kingdom. On his part, President Mubarak thanked King Abdullah for the warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to him and the accompanying delegation. During the meeting, they discussed the latest developments topped by the situation in Iraq, the necessity for maintaining its territorial integrity, independence and unity and for strengthening its Arab identity. The developments of the Palestinian cause following the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the importance of uniting Palestinian ranks were also discussed. The two sides also discussed overall developments at the Islamic and international arenas, aspects of cooperation between the two countries and ways of enhancing them in all fields. On the Saudi side, the meeting was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; and other princes. On the Egyptian side, the meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu Al-Gheit, Information Minister Anas Al-Faqi and senior officials. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz hosted a luncheon at his palace in honor of President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and the accompanying delegation. The banquet was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector general and a number of princes, ministers and senior officials. Egypt's President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak arrived on a visit to the kingdom. At King Abdulaziz International Airport, he was received by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation And Inspector General, other princes and officials. Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, received the U.S. Foreign Secretary's Coordinator for Iraqi affairs Ambassador James Jeffrey and his accompanying delegation. The ambassador conveyed to the monarch the greetings of U.S. President George W. Bush. In turn, the king sent his greetings to the president. They also discussed the latest developments in Iraq. The audience was attended by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister; other princes and U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom James Oberwetter. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz also held talks with US coordinator for Iraq James Jeffrey, who is a senior adviser to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The talks focused on the developments in Iraq. Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and other senior officials attended the meeting. Prince Sultan and Jeffrey examined "ways of helping the Iraqi people overcome their current (difficult) circumstances," with the Saudi Crown Prince stressing the need to safeguard Iraq's unity, independence and Arab identity. Jeffrey's meeting with Saudi leaders comes after the Arab ministerial committee decided Sunday to send Arab League Secretary-General Amre Moussa to Iraq to prepare for a reconciliation conference. The United States welcomed the ministerial committee's decision, which comes in the run-up to an Oct. 15 referendum on a new Iraqi constitution opposed by many Sunni Arab political and religious leaders in Iraq. On the other hand Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received a number of princes, ministers, senior officials of Royal Court and Cabinet Presidency Court; other officials; and commanders and officers of the Royal Guard who came to greet and congratulate him on the advent of the blessed month of Ramadan. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received the Director General of Islamic, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Dr. Abdul Aziz Ibn Othman Al-Tuwaijeri. During the audience, Dr. Al-Tuwaijeri presented the Organization's shield to King Abdullah in recognition and appreciation of his support for joint Islamic action, patronization of Islamic solidarity and service for Islamic culture. The audience was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister; other princes and ministers. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received Dalo Roosevelt, the grandson of U.S. former president. The audience was attended by Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and Prince Dr. Bandar Ibn Salman Ibn Mohammed Al Saud, Advisors to the King; other princes and officials. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received the delegation of Islamic University in Islamabad including Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali and Dr. Mohammed Abdo Yamani. During the audience, they expressed appreciation of and thanks to the King for support provided by the Kingdom for the University that serves a large number of Muslims. The audience was attended by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister; other princes and ministers. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received a number of princes and senior officials. He also received a group of citizens who came to greet him, congratulate him on the occasion of Ramadan. The audience was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General and a number of princes and senior officials. On the other hand Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz chaired the weekly session of the Council of Ministers. At the beginning of the session, the king congratulated the Saudi people and the Arab and Islamic nations on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan. On this occasion, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques called on the Arab and Islamic nations to work hard for the benefit and mutual support of the Islamic nation. In his statement to Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Culture and Information Mr. Iyad Ibn Amine Madani said that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the council on the messages, talks and meetings that took place during the past days with a number of representatives of countries on developments of events at the international arena. The council addressed the first meeting of the ministerial committee emanating from the Arab League to discuss the Iraqi issue, which was held in the province of Jeddah, and commended the efforts exerted by the committee's members to formulate an Arab strategy to support Iraq in a way that maintains its territorial integrity, safety and independence. The council stressed Saudi Arabia's concern for Iraq's present and future, its independence, unity, security and stability. The council also stressed the importance of Iraq's national reconciliation, unity of Iraqi people and consolidation of its Arab identity which has always been the element that maintained Iraq's unity; it further noted that sectarianism at the Iraqi scene is against the maintenance of Iraq's unity and leads to more divisions and more suffering. Unity, the council believed, will only be realized by giving priority to national over sectarian interest, which will be translated into reality through the new Iraqi constitution and forthcoming elections. On another subject, the council urged the brothers in Palestine to realize that the future of the Palestinian cause depends on their ability to maintain their unity and resist attempts to divide them. On another development, the council condemned the terrorist bombings which took place in the Island of Bali, Indonesia, and which led to many casualties. The council reiterated that confrontation of terrorism requires more decisive international cooperation. The Minister said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions: The Cabinet approved the recommendations proposed for the implementation of Rotterdam Agreement relating to dangerous chemical materials and pesticides circulated in the international commerce. The Cabinet approved the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Agreement on Combating Terrorism signed in Kuwait on May 4, 2004. The agreement called on GCC countries to integrate plans and precautionary measures against terrorism. These countries pledged to cooperate in providing the required security support for any of them when subjected to the dangers and crimes of terrorism. The GCC countries should take measures to prevent the use of their territories as a stage for planning, organizing or executing terrorist crimes. The agreement called on these countries for integration to prevent infiltration cases or penetration of security measures. The Cabinet approved the implementation of the decision taken by the GCC Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee including permission for GCC citizens to practice the following activities effective September 1, 2005: 1- Private employment offices 2- Car rentals 3- Cultural activities except for: A- Printing and publishing houses B- The Establishment of newspapers and magazines The Cabinet approved the results of the Technical Committee Assigned to set the technical specifications of sanitary tools and materials used for conservation of water. The Cabinet prevented concerned bodies from importing sanitary tools and plumbing materials which do not meet the requirements of water conservation after one year from the date of approving the specifications of plumbing tools and sanitary materials approved as suitable for water conservation by Saudi Arabian Standardization Commission. It also prevented the manufacturing of sanitary tools and plumbing materials that do not conserve water. The Cabinet approved two appointments at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and the Presidency of Youth Welfare. On another scale Riyadh Governor Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz inaugurated the second charitable housing project in Badeea, comprising 124 housing units. He commended the spirit displayed by Saudis in philanthropic activities. "We have so far received donations worth SR250 million for the charitable housing project," the governor told the opening ceremony, adding that the second housing project was implemented at a total cost of SR32 million. He also spoke about an SR100 million endowment scheme that would generate revenues for the operation and management of charitable projects. "All these projects should have an endowment to ensure their continuity," he stated. A 10,000-square meter plot of land on King Fahd Road in Riyadh has been bought for the endowment project. Prince Salman expressed his happiness over the generous support by affluent Saudis toward their less fortunate compatriots. "As I have said before, every Saudi will be ready to pay his or her Zakah and Sadaqat once they learn that their money benefits the deserving," the governor told the gathering, which included a large number of businessmen and philanthropists. Prince Salman toured the housing units after unveiling the commemorative plaque. He also opened a social activities center at the complex. More housing projects will be opened under the scheme in the coming years. Ibrahim Al-Asheikh, secretary-general of Al-Birr Society, said the charitable project provided model houses for the poor. "So far we have constructed 453 housing units under the project named after Prince Salman," he said. In his speech, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh urged wealthy Muslims to support their less fortunate brethren deriving inspiration from the teachings of Islam.