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March 17, 2006 |
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CROWN PRINCE SULTAN DONATES MEDICAL EQUIPMENTS TO AL MANAS HOSPITAL. IN ITS SPEECH AT THE UN THE KINGDOM STRESSES THAT ITS SUPPORT TO PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM DISASTERS EMANATES FROM ITS CULTURE AND BELIEFS. The Cabinet, presided over by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, reviewed the outcome of the fraternal meeting held between King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait, during his two-day visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The two leaders confirmed their keenness on further cementing bilateral relations as well as enhancing relations among the GCC member states. The two leaders underscored the importance of further enhancing cooperation between the Kingdom and Kuwait in a manner that serves mutual interests as well as the interests of the GCC member states, and that positively contributes to enhancing global security and stability. In his briefing to SPA, the Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Ibn Amin Madani said the King had briefed the Cabinet on the contents and outcome of his meetings, consultations and contacts with leaders of a number of brotherly and friendly countries during the last few days on issues of mutual interest. The Minister of Culture and Information said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions: The Cabinet approved the recommendations submitted by a ministerial ad hoc committee, formed upon instructions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, to study the needs of Jeddah Province for combating the threats of Dengue Fever. In this regard, the Cabinet instructed the concerned authorities to expedite the implementation of the proposed recommendations to help provide treatment for the Dengue Fever in Jeddah Province. The total cost of the proposed projects is estimated at SR 1,423, 950,000 in addition to previous appropriations to complete sewage discharge projects worth SR 7 billion, the statement said. The Cabinet also approved the draft of a Memorandum of Understanding dealing with bilateral political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, signed in Riyadh on February 6. 2005. The MOU, which calls for coordinating positions of the two countries at the regional and international platforms, is valid for five years, effective the date of its signing and automatically renewable unless either party expresses its desire in writing of terminating it, at least six months ahead of the MOU's date of expiration. The Minister of Finance or his deputy was authorized to continue discussions of the draft agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federal Republic of Austria to evade double taxation on income and capital and to prevent tax evasion, sign it and then forward the final version for further authentication. Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah arrived in Riyadh on a two-day official visit to the Kingdom. At Riyadh Airbase, the Emir and his accompanying delegation were received by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz; Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior; Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh Region; Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister; a number of princes; ministers and officials. --SPA Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh Region at the Guest Palace. The reception was attended by Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Hashim bin Abdullah Yamani, Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Kingdom Sheikh Jaber Duaij Ibrahim Al-Sabah and the Emir's accompanying delegation. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud held at his palace a dinner party in honor of Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and his accompanying delegation. The party was attended by Prince Mishaal Ibn Abdul Aziz; Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior; Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh Region; Prince Sattam Ibn Abdul Aziz, Vice Governor of Riyadh Region; Prince Miqren Ibn Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence; a number of princes; ministers and senior officials. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz honored the the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah with King Abdul Aziz Medal in appreciation for Sheikh Sabah's role for service of causes of the Arab nation and member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Official talks were held between the Amir and King Abdullah, focusing on means of cementing the solid ties between the State of Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the mechanism for bolstering mutual cooperation for service of the two brotherly countries and peoples. The discussions also dealt with means of boosting action of the GCC, latest developments on the Arab and international arenas. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahamd Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwaiti and the accompanying delegation left Riyadh after a two-day official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He was seen off at the airport of Riyadh Airbase by Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh region, a number of princes and senior officials. Dr Mohammed Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti deputy premier and foreign minister, said the concluded visit of Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-ahmad al-Sabah to Saudi Arabia has embodied the existing deep-rooted historical relations between the Kingdom and Kuwait. In a statement to SPA, Dr Mohammed Al-Sabah said the Emir had reviewed with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz issues pertaining to bilateral relations as well as a number of Arab and Muslim causes. Highlighting the existing fraternal relations between the Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, he said 'we are one country and one nation'. On the other hand, Dr Mohammed Al-Sabah lauded the blessed march of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). On the other hand Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General has donated SR 3 million to buy medical equipments for Al Manas General hospital. The Director General of the hospital Mansour Al Asmari said the donation is allocated to buy specific equipments required for detailed tests and operations. He said the donation follows other donations from the Crown Prince to the citizens in Al Manas area. As the Crown Prince had donated SR 10 million for the establishment of a dental center and Sr 6 million for the foundation of a health center in Al Thabet villages. In New York the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has praised the efforts of the United Nations in facing the world disasters and its quick reactions in cases of emergencies. The Kingdom stresses its full support and said it would continue to offer humanitarian help in the field and in other development areas. The Kingdom confirmed that the help provided by the Kingdom emanates from its culture which calls for helping areas affected by disasters and its belief to financially help countries and people affected. This was revealed in the speech of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia delivered by Ambassador Fawzi Al Shobokshi permanent representative of Kingdom to the UN before the Central Emergency Response Fund. In the speech the Kingdom said it bears the same responsibilities as the United Nations and reacts quickly either on the governmental or popular levels to offer help to countries and people suffering from natural disasters. It offers its utmost help due to its strong belief in cooperation to face all disasters. In the speech the Kingdom asserted that the Kingdom is really the Kingdom of Humanity as it offers the highest rate of help in the whole world to the countries affected by disasters as it considers itself part of the world community. Ambassador Shobokshi went on to say that the efforts of the United Nations in facing disasters is highly appreciated and said the Kingdom is always ahead in offering its utmost help to those in need. He reiterated that the Kingdom has never refrained from providing human help for those in need. The Ambassador talked about the disasters the world suffered from in 2005 and said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has offered $ 269 million covering humanitarian needs to 26 countries in Africa and Asia. As for developing countries the Kingdom has offered $ 84 billion to 87 countries in all continents. Those aid constitute 4% for its GDP. Ambassador Shobokshi went on to say that the Kingdom has provided around $ 24 billion to development organizations and has taken part in helping poor countries with their debts. In Gaza Palestinian Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs Yosif Salamah hailed Saudi Arabia's positive stands and great services provided to Muslims in general and the Palestinian people in particular. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency, he highlighted Saudi support for the Palestinian people in all fields of life explaining that Saudi aid covered education, health, housing, food and other supplies. Also the head of the UNDP office in Gaza Khaled Abdul Shafi has lauded the assistance extended by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support the budget of the Palestinian authority and the different development projects atop of which the project for building 300 housing units in Rafah at a cost of $ 15 million through the Saudi Commission for Palestinian Relief under the supervision of Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz the Minister of the Interior. In a statement to the Saudi Press agency, he reviewed the projects implemented by UNDP with the financial support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and said the assistance was extended to implement a computer centers to the amount of $ 2,3 million. Seventeen centers were established in the West Bank and Gaza in addition to 22 centers organizes with the cooperation of the Ministry of Education. He mentioned the water projects implemented with the help of Saudi Arabia as well as Electricity projects. He recalled that the Kingdom has a long history of support for the Palestinian issue, and that the assistance provided by the Kingdom through the Saudi Committee for the Relief of the Palestinian People, led by Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior, has considerably contributed to the alleviation of the sufferings of the Palestinian people, and also vastly narrowed the deficits of Palestinian budgets, particularly in the last five years. In Cairo the Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Mousa met with Dr. Abdul Aziz al-Ghamdi, President of Naif Arab University for Security Sciences. During the meeting, they discussed the enhancement of cooperation and coordination between the two sides in the field of comprehensive security . |
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