VIP VISITS, NEWS BRIEFS, and WASHINGTON NOTES

VISITING VIPs

KING FAHD MEETS WITH LEADERS OF BAHRAIN AND LEBANON

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz met in Jeddah on May 19 with King of Bahrain Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifah, who was in the Kingdom on a state visit. On his arrival, King Hamad praised Saudi Arabia’s honorable stance towards Arab and Islamic issues, notably the initiative for Middle East peace proposed by Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. During his visit, King Hamad also met separately with Crown Prince Abdullah and Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector-General Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz. Discussions touched on a variety of subjects, including bilateral relations, and regional and international developments. On the same day, King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah also met with visiting Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri, to discuss the continued reconstruction of Lebanon and recent developments in the country and the region.

MOROCCAN AND JORDANIAN MONARCHS ON STATE VISITS TO SAUDI ARABIA

Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz met in Jeddah on June 4 with King Muhammad VI of Morocco, who was visiting the Kingdom for a meeting of the Saudi-Moroccan joint economic committee. In addition to bilateral concerns, the talks covered the Middle East situation and the killing of civilians, demolition of homes and the desecration of sanctuaries carried out by Israeli forces.  The following day, Crown Prince Abdullah met with King Abdullah of Jordan, who came to the Kingdom for Saudi-Jordanian talks. In addition to bilateral concerns, the talks covered the Middle East situation and Israel’s aggression against the Palestinians.

CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH RECEIVES MESSAGE FROM U.S. PRESIDENT BUSH

Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz received a message from U.S. President George W. Bush on June 26 delivered by U.S. Ambassador-designate to Saudi Arabia Robert W. Jordan. Crown Prince Abdullah accepted in Jeddah on June 30 the credentials of Mr. Jordan, making him the new U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Crown Prince Abdullah met on June 3 with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State William Burns, with whom he reviewed the Middle East situation and the latest developments in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.

In May, Crown Prince Abdullah met with former U.S. ambassadors to Saudi Arabia Wyche Fowler, Charles Freeman, who is Chairman of the Middle East Policy Council and Edward Walker, who is head of the Middle East Institute.

PAKISTANI AND SUDANESE LEADERS VISIT THE KINGDOM

Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz met in Jeddah on June 11 with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. The discussion covered tensions between Pakistan and India and efforts to contain the dispute, as well as regional and international developments. At the end of his two-day visit, President Musharraf told reporters that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have a long and rich history based on mutual good will and faith, and that Pakistan can always look toward Saudi Arabia for help and assistance when problems arise.

On June 16, Crown Prince Abdullah met in Jeddah with Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Basheer to discuss developments in Africa, the Middle East and the world.

NEWS BRIEFS

KING FAHD MEETS WITH LEADERS IN GENEVA

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz arrived in Geneva on May 20 for a personal visit to Switzerland. Before leaving, King Fahd issued a royal order deputizing Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to run the country’s affairs during his absence abroad.

In Geneva, King Fahd met with Algerian President Abdulaziz Bouteflika on June 6 and reviewed with him the latest regional and international developments, notably the situation in the Middle East. The two leaders stressed their continued firm support for the Palestinians in regaining their legitimate rights and setting up an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and urged the international community to exert greater effort to stop Israel’s violence and move towards negotiations for the achievement of a just and comprehensive peace.

On June 7, King Fahd met with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, with whom he reviewed the latest international developments, notably Israel’s continued attacks on the Palestinian people. King Fahd called on Secretary-General Annan to use his influence to stop the violence and help the Palestinians regain their legitimate rights through implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Later, King Fahd met with Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, and discussed with him topics of mutual concern.

U.S. JOURNALISTS TOUR SAUDI ARABIA

Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz met in Jeddah on June 17 a delegation of the National Association of U.S. Press Editorialists on a visit to the Kingdom. During the audience, they discussed a number of issues regarding Saudi-U.S. relations, Crown Prince Abdullah’s Middle East peace initiative and the Palestinian issue. During their three-day visit to the Kingdom, the 23  American journalists also met with Minister of Information Dr. Fuad Al-Farsi, Chairman of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) Prince Abdullah bin Turki bin Faisal and other senior officials. They also visited the Majlis Al-Shura (Consultative Council), and several ministries, including the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, as well as the King Fahd National Guard Hospital and the Al-Yamamah Press Establishment.

SAUDI AID FOR VICTIMS OF NATURAL AND MAN-MADE DISASTERS

A convoy of Saudi Arabian trucks arrived in Syria in the first week of June to deliver tents, blankets and food to people who were made homeless by the collapse of the Zayzoun Dam. Later in the month, Saudi Arabian cargo planes transported hundreds of tons of relief assistance, including tents, blankets, medicine and foodstuff, for survivors of earthquakes in northern Iran and severe flooding in the western parts of the country.

Meanwhile, in late May as part of its ongoing efforts to alleviate the suffering of the civilian victims of war, the Saudi Joint Committee for the Relief of Kosovo and Chechnya and the Saudi Red Crescent Society, working in concert with various United Nations agencies, distributed large quantities of fertilizer and seeds to farmers in Kosovo and foodstuffs and medicine to refugees in Chechnya.

WASHINGTON NOTES

DEATH IN WASHINGTON OF PRINCE ALMOATAZ BIN SAUD BIN ABDULAZIZ

Prince Almoataz bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, the director of the Saudi Arabian National Guard Office in the United States, died on May 30 in Washington, DC, of a heart attack.

OUTGOING DIPLOMATS

On behalf of Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Ambassador Ahmad Kattan on June 27 hosted a reception for nine diplomats who have ended their tour of duty at the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Washington, DC. The diplomats are Counselor Esam Abid Al-Thagafi, First Secretary Abdulmohsen Al-Sheddi, First Secretary Mahmoud Qattan, Second Secretary Musaid Al-Marwany, Second Secretary Saud Al-Hamdan, Administrative Attaché Faisal Bostani, Administrative Attaché Hamid Al-Hawali, Administrative Attaché Khalid Al-Motairy and Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Othman.

MWL DELEGATION IN U.S.

A delegation from the Muslim World League (MWL) began a goodwill tour of the U.S. on June 25 with visits to New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles.