JEDDAH, 7 November — British Prime Minister Tony Blair has commended Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd for his strong stand in response to the global threat posed by terrorism today.
"These are difficult and testing times for all of us. It’s time when friends need to consult and coordinate action. I was delighted to have had the opportunity to meet King Fahd during my visit last week to the Kingdom when I was able to discuss these issues. I’m fully confident that, under his wise counsel, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom will continue to advance toward their common objectives," Blair said in a statement marking Fahd’s 20th anniversary in power.
Blair’s statement, released by the British Embassy in Riyadh, said: "Under King Fahd’s leadership, Saudi Arabia’s involvement in some of the major international challenges of the past two decades has been crucial. He was influential in forming and maintaining the successful coalition to ... secure the liberation of Kuwait. He has worked tirelessly in pursuit of a just outcome to the Middle East process."
Blair added: "The future of all our countries rests firmly on how we educate and meet the aspirations of our young people. King Fahd, as the Kingdom’s first minister of education, has been intimately involved in planning and implementing a far ranging program to improve the quality and availability of education. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to share some of our experiences and have concluded important agreements between British and Saudi universities...
"Under King Fahd, Saudi Arabia has advanced both in economic development and diversification. It’s currently engaged in a challenging program of economic reform, creating exciting new opportunities. I’m delighted that British companies have played a role in this program."
