Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation, and Inspector-General, in a speech today on the occasion of International Environment Day, reiterated the continuing attention paid by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the issue of preservation of the environment. The Council of Ministers, he pointed out, has issued directives for a national plan for the conservation of water resources. Prince Sultan stated: "It is not enough to be simply aware of the problems of the environment and development. This should be followed by international cooperation in order to confront the problems."

Prince Sultan noted that in the light of the swift urban development witnessed throughout the world, intensive efforts are needed to combat pollution, and pointed out that responsibility should not be left to governments: citizens should cooperate with all concerned authorities in this regard, with effective measures taken especially in rationalizing consumption of natural resources.

Prince Sultan reported that a draft for a general system for the environment has been drawn up, together with a plan for administration of the coastal areas of the Kingdom, adding: "In line with the teachings of Islam and the directives of the government, the Kingdom will always shoulder its responsibility towards environmental problems."

In a separate statement, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Managing Director of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD) noted that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has accomplished much over the last decade in the area of preservation of the environment, and in recognition of its efforts has been awarded certificates of merit by a number of international organizations.

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