FROM THE PRESS, EDITORIAL HIGHLIGHTS, and photos

FROM THE PRESS

During May and June, Saudi Arabian newspapers reported on a variety of topics related to the Kingdom and the world.  Major headlines reported that:

• Speaking at a ceremony marking International Biodiversity Day on May 22, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector-General Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, who also chairs the board of directors of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD), emphasizes the Kingdom’s commitment to conserving its wildlife and natural resources.

• Saudi Arabia joins the aviation security committee of the Council of the International Organization of Civil Aviation in Montreal, Canada.

• The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh on May 13 carries out its one thousandth bone marrow transplant procedure.

• Dr. Muhammad Al-Saqqaf, a geophysicist with the national oil company Saudi Aramco, wins a U.S. patent for an innovative seismological model that allows geologists to pinpoint potential sites of oil fields.

• A web site designed by two high school students from Hail is named among top 100 in an international competition

EDITORIAL HIGHLIGHTS

SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT BUSH’S MIDEAST POLICY

Saudi Arabian newspapers commented on U.S. President George W. Bush’s June 24 policy statement on the Middle East, in which he called for reform of the Palestinian Authority and steps to be taken by the Palestinians before a Palestinian state can be established. The English-language Riyadh Daily supported the positive elements of the president’s stance, particularly his acceptance of the need for the formation of a Palestinian state, but said the U.S. did not place similar demands on Israel to halt its violent practices and help bring about the conditions necessary for Palestinian reform. “America knows that it cannot abandon such an important part of the world,” it said in an editorial, adding: “But new developments after the events of September 11 changed history and the Palestinian cause assumed more importance than it ever had. Accordingly, Bush declared his new statement, which did not give the Palestinians all their rights, but forms the basis of a future solution.”

The Jeddah-based English-language Arab News, echoing a view held by many Saudi newspapers, said President Bush needs to put more pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to reciprocate the Palestinian moves. “Whatever does eventually become of Palestinian reforms, they will not, on their own, advance the peace process,” it stated. “For that, there will have to be far-reaching Israeli reforms as well,” the newspaper added, citing as an example the need to pressure the Israeli government to abandon its hard-line policies and accept the need for a negotiated resolution of the crisis.

Photo page 13

CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH MEETS WITH KING MUHAMMAD OF MOROCCO

Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz met with King Muhammad VI of Morocco in Jeddah on June 4. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments, including efforts to secure a negotiated settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli crisis.

Photo page 16

WORKING FOR MIDEAST PEACE