January 5, 2006

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz directly supervised the services and facilities being provided to pilgrims to perform their Hajj rituals easily, safely and comfortably and to be reassured about all stages of the general plan for pilgrims' movement in the holy places as it is customary every year. Upon arrival at Jamarat Bridge, the monarch was received by Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, a number of princes, ministers and officials. The King patronized an inaugural ceremony of the first stage of development of the project of Jamarat bridge and area. A speech ceremony was held on this occasion. Addressing the ceremony, Prince Miteb Bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs praised the King for the development of the holy places including this project to enable pilgrims to perform their rituals easily and comfortably. He shed light on the project which he described as unique and has achieved the highest standards of safety for pilgrims. Then the King and the Crown Prince toured the area. Later the monarch left for Mina palace where he was received by Prince Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Minister of Interior and Deputy Chairman of Hajj Supreme Committee and number of princes and officials. After that, the King left Jeddah and he was seen off by a number of officials. The first two phases of the SR4.2-billion Jamarat project in Mina have been completed and were handed over to the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs by the Saudi Binladin Group, informed sources said. The handover came two weeks ahead of the Hajj, which began on Dec. 29. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from different parts of the world arrived in Makkah for the annual event. Members of the Central Hajj Committee visited the Jamrat bridge project, which is designed to facilitate the stoning ritual without stampedes that have killed hundreds of pilgrims in the past. Habeeb Zainul Abideen, deputy minister of municipal and rural affairs, said the project, which was initiated by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, would bring about qualitative changes to the Jamarat area. Unlike in the past, pilgrims had to follow separate routes to reach the ground and first floors. And they were allowed to use the same route on their way back to tents. Electronic signboards directed them to alternative routes. The new levels have an average width of 70 meters, an engineer working for the project said, adding that the area near the pillars has a width of 80 meters. "We have also expanded the width of pillars to 30 meters to help a large number of pilgrims perform the stoning ritual at one time," he said. The second and third levels of the project will be ready next year, said the engineer. Work on the third phase of the project will begin soon after the Hajj, he added. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, held the annual reception for Islamic dignitaries and heads of Hajj missions, who performed Hajj this year. Among the most prominent personalities who attended the reception were Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, Sierra Leone's President Alhaj Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, Palestine Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, Chairman of Egypt's People's Assembly Ahmed Fathi Sorour, Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdulmahdi and Mauritius Vice-President Abdul-Rauf Bondhoun. The reception was also attended by Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul-Aziz, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Abdul-Rahman Bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation; Prince Miteb Bin Abdul-aziz, the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Naif bin Abdul-Aziz, the Minister of Interior, a number of other princes, high-ranking officials and ambassadors of Arab and Islamic countries accredited to the Kingdom. The commencement of the reception ceremony started with the recitation of verses from the holy Quran. A speech ceremony was held on this occasion. Addressing the Muslim personalities and heads of Hajj mission, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques congratulated them on the blessed Eid Al-Adha and wished them many happy returns, praising Almighty Allah for enabling them to perform their Hajj rituals easily and comfortably. The monarch wished them safe return to their countries, noting that Allah will reward acceptable Hajj with paradise. The King said,'' you came from various countries meeting in one place on a certain time. There is no difference among you except for piety. Here, people are united and differences disappear. There is no tie other than firm faith in the hearts. This great scene stresses that Allah can unite the hearts of this nation. If we are sincere towards religion, Allah will achieve victory and glory for us. Thereby we will be an effective nation in the front rather than in the back." In his speech, the Minister of Hajj Dr. Fuad Bin Abdulsalam Al-Farsi reminded of remarks of the King and the Crown Prince in the holy month of Ramadan saying that pilgrims are dear to our hearts and Makkah, Madinah and the holy places have been given priorities. He praised unprecedented achievements of projects in various fields in the holy places particularly the project of Jamarat bridge development whose total costs amount to sr 4.2 billion. On his part, Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdulmohsin Al-Turki, the Secretary General of Muslim World League congratulated the King and the Crown Prince on the blessed Eid Al-Adha, noting that Hajj rituals have been perform very well, thanks to the great efforts being exerted by the concerned bodies in the Kingdom. He pointed out the Kingdom has been founded on moderate, just and tolerant Islam which is mercy to all mankind.