November 18, 2005

PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ LAUNCHES NEW PROJECTS AND PATRONIZES THE CEREMONY OF LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE PROJECT OF THE HOUSING OF THE PERSONNEL OF KING FAISAL AIR BASE IN THE NORTH-WESTERN REGION. THE CROWN PRINCE CONVEYS THE GREETINGS OF THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES TO THE ARMED FORCES IN THE EASTERN REGION AND STRESSES THAT THE ARMED FORCES MUST REACH THE HIGHEST LEVELS. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, arrived in Dhahran, coming from Tabuk to convey Eid Al-Fitr congratulations to the commanders, officers and personnel of the armed forces in the eastern region. At King Abdul Aziz air base, he was received by Prince Mohammed Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of the Eastern Region, princes and senior civil and military officials. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz conveyed the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to members of the armed forces at King Fahd hall for cultural activities in Dhahran. At the venue Prince Sultan was received by Prince Mohammed Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of the Eastern Region, Prince Jalawi Ibn Abdul Aziz Ibn Musaid Deputy Governor of the Eastern region, the commander of the Eastern region Staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Ibn Mohamed Al Rubayan and commanders of the different branches of the armed forces. The ceremony started with reading from the Holy Quran then Staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Ibn Mohamed Al Rubayan delivered a speech on behalf the armed forces in the Eastern region in which he expressed their feelings of happiness about the Crown Prince's visit. In his speech Staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Ibn Mohamed Al Rubayan spoke about the changes that happened in the Kingdom during the last year and the happiness Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has brought to members of the armed forces. He praised the achievements realized in the armed forces under the leadership of Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz. A poem was read then Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, delivered a speech in which he thanked the Commander of the Eastern region and members of the armed forces for their endeavour to realize the aspirations of the Saudi leadership, the government and the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, had patronized the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the project of the housing of the personnel of King Faisal Air Base in the north-western region. The SR85 million project will house officers and technicians, said Commander of the north-western Region major general Zabn Ibn Tilaihan Al-Harbi. At the venue, he was received by Major General Zabn Ibn Tilaihan Al-Harbi, Commander of the north-western Region, and senior commanders. During a speech ceremony to mark the occasion, Crown Prince Sultan conveyed to the personnel of the base the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud. The Crown Prince advised them to focus on training and education. The occasion was attended by Prince Fahd Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Tabuk Region, princes and a number of officials. Crown Prince Sultan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, has announced plans to strengthen the Kingdom's air force and for it to become No. 1 in the Middle East. Addressing officers at King Faisal Airbase in Tabuk last Sunday, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz said the air force would be provided with advanced aircraft and equipment, replacing old ones. "Our air force fleet will become the strongest in the Middle East," the crown prince was quoted as telling the officers in Tabuk before leaving for Dhahran last Sunday night. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz called upon the air force, however, to improve its combat capabilities through training. "You are our real arms and ammunition, because iron without men is useless," he added. Later, speaking at an Eid celebration organized by the armed forces in Tabuk, he emphasized the crucial role played by the air defense force. "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, as well as every citizen in the country, holds you in high esteem and appreciates your services," Prince Sultan told the officers. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, opened the reception hall at the 3rd air defense command club in Tabuk. At the venue, he was received by Major General Zabn Ibn Tilaihan Al-Harbi, Commander of the north-western Region, and senior commanders. Then Crown Prince Sultan was briefed on the contents of the project. During a speech ceremony to mark the occasion, Crown Prince Sultan conveyed to the personnel of the base the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud. The Crown Prince also highlighted the importance of air defense forces. Then he attended a lunch party held in his honor by the command of air defense. The occasion was attended by Prince Fahd Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Tabuk Region, princes, Minister of Transport Dr. Jubarah Ibn Eid Al Suraisiri, senior military officers and a number of officials. Crown Prince Sultan opened a state-of-the-art science and technology center in Al Khobar tomorrow, according to Dr. Majed Al-Qasabi, director general of Prince Sultan Charitable Foundation. Qasabi described the Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Science and Technology Center, established at a cost of SR230 million, as a gateway of science and technology on the Kingdom's eastern coast. "Prince Sultan selected Al Khobar for the center because of its strategic location in the Gulf," he said, adding that the center would both serve Saudis and citizens of other GCC countries. The center's innovative programs are designed to make learning fun and interesting and will play an effective role in the future of science and technology within the Kingdom. The center uses interactive and hands-on exhibits that engage visitors and makes learning science an enjoyable family experience, its director Riyad Al-Adel said. Prince Sultan, who is currently visiting Tabuk, laid the foundation stone for the 500-bed King Fahd Specialist Hospital in the city. Speaking at the ceremony, Transport Minister and Acting Health Minister Dr. Jabara Al-Seraisry outlined the government's plan to establish specialized hospitals around the country. "The authorities have approved proposals to increase the number of beds at specialist hospitals in Al-Jouf, Hail, Jeddah and Baljurashi," he told the gathering. Seraisry said three hospitals were now under construction in the Tabuk region, adding that the authorities have approved a 200-bed maternity and children's hospital in Tabuk. Two new hospitals will be established in Amlaj and Dhuba next year. Dr. Masaad Al-Atwi, who spoke on behalf of citizens, described the new hospital as a valuable Eid gift from the government to the people of Tabuk. Earlier, Prince Sultan opened the Tabuk College of Technology and laid the foundation stones for a higher technical institute for girls and a vocational training institute in this northwestern city. Dr. Ali Al-Ghafees, governor of the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training (GOTEVOT), said the new training projects in Tabuk would cost SR600 million. Tabuk Governor Prince Fahd ibn Sultan and Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi attended the ceremony. Later, Prince Sultan laid the foundation stone for a housing project for the staff of King Faisal Airbase. On Saturday, he distributed to deserving people keys of housing units established under Prince Fahd Ibn Sultan Social Program.