New era in Saudi-Indian ties: King

By P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR | ARAB NEWS

JEDDAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah highlighted Monday the growing relations between Saudi Arabia and India and said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's landmark visit and the signing of several bilateral accords would usher in a new era in relations between the two countries.

"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit and the signing of a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding reflect a new era of strategic partnership between the two countries," said King Abdullah while addressing the weekly Cabinet meeting.

King Abdullah held talks with Singh at his palace in Riyadh on Sunday and honored the Indian premier by conferring on him the King Abdul Aziz Sash of the First Order. The Saudi-Indian summit talks covered major regional and international issues and ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation in different areas.

Monday's Cabinet meeting also took a series of decisions to stop the practice of writing bad checks. A Cabinet statement said those who issue such checks would be imprisoned and their names published in local daily newspapers.

The Cabinet authorized the Commission for Investigation and Public Prosecution to investigate crimes relating to checks and file criminal cases against people involved in the practice.

"Judicial authorities looking into such cases should give their verdicts within 30 days," the Cabinet said. It also authorized courts to punish those involved in check-related crimes, the Saudi Press Agency said.

The Cabinet asked Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif to enact a bylaw in this respect on the basis of Article 118 of the Commercial Papers Law, which has specified that people who commit such crimes are detained.

The Cabinet urged the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency to take necessary measures to regulate the issuance of objection letters and prevent banks from delaying the rejection of bouncing checks.

Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said the Cabinet set up a ministerial committee to study prospects of activating legislation on making it necessary on people to produce residential addresses for matters relating to civil affairs, resident permits (iqama) and commercial registration laws.

According to the new plan, citizens, residents, companies and organizations should have residential addresses for all official correspondence and should inform authorities in case of change of address.

The committee comprises representatives from the ministries of interior, justice, commerce and industry, communications and information technology, and finance, as well as from the customs, Saudi Post and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency.

The Cabinet also denounced the Israeli forces for raiding the Al-Aqsa Mosque and clashing with Palestinian worshippers in Jerusalem on Sunday. It also condemned Israel's decision to include the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron and Bilal bin Rabah Mosque in Bethlehem among Israeli heritage sites.

Saudi Arabia also denounced Israel for carrying out digging work under the walls of occupied Jerusalem. "These Israeli practices are considered dangerous provocations that will arouse Muslim sentiments all over the world," the Cabinet said.

It urged the international community to stand firmly against these provocative practices and force Israel to stop its plan to forcibly occupy Palestinian land, ignoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and international community.

Comments

UMAR AFROOQUE

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good step...............historical movements................really....................

NISHTHAR IDROOS

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It’s a great opportunity and a turning point for the Saudi economy. An eastward exposure was long over due and augers well for the future. With the curtain coming down in the west, bilateral relations must be strengthened for mutual benifit.We wish the government of Saudi Arabia all the best in its future economic partnerships with India.

CHRIS

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What do "bad checks" have to do with Mr. Singh? This seems like a article writtem by someone who has no idea what the subject is!

M.G.NAZAR PASHA

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It is good news for both the countries that the Indo saudi relationship has taken a positive turn after the visit of Indian PM.
However,there is a long way to go till the agreements signed by the both parites are implemented,which is not so easy.
For instance,the import of medicine from India has been approved by the Saudi government but till date no such import has taken place.The reason being,the western countries manufacturers who have appointed their agents in saudi arabia has lobby to protect their interest.
There should be meetings at regular interval between the two business communities,so that each side can know the latest status of each country's business scenario
I would like to say that,the idea of including the residence address of.
citizens and residents and companies is welcomed,but the serious problem is that,when the change in address has to be informed to the concerned authority,the officials on the counter will be very careless and negligent.They will throw the papers some where in their tables and forget to update AND THEY WILL NOT GIVE ANY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR RECEIVING THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS.They are not accountable for their errors.so ultimately the residents will suffer for no fault of theirs.
The Government can make rules and laws but the people at the gross root level of administration are negligent.
Thank you
Pasha

ARSHAD

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Power Center is slowly shifting from West o East. Good move by Saudi Arabia and India. Good example for countries who like to be major players in future. Dr.Singh is one of the strongest economist the world has seen. His presence and participation needs to made use of at the fullest.
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