JEDDAH, 19 February 2003 — Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, yesterday defended the presence of foreign forces in the Kingdom and said they were here for the benefit of the whole region.

“What we have are forces from the United States, Britain and France that have been here for 12 years under a Security Council resolution and an agreement signed by the countries and the Iraqi government,” he said.

“This situation will continue because it is good for those countries, for Iraq and for Saudi Arabia,” he told reporters.

Prince Sultan also said the privatization of Saudi Arabian Airlines was progressing well, adding that the privatization panel will meet next month to announce details.

The prince also said there was no political motive behind the murder of the deputy governor of Al-Jouf on Monday.

Earlier, he announced plans to set up a high-level panel to assess the performance of military bases and cities all over the Kingdom.

Prince Sultan, who is now on an inspection tour of military personnel and installations in the Southern Province, said the panel will include a number of university professors and civilian officials.

“The panel will visit all four branches of the armed forces — land, air, naval and air defense — within six months to complete the assessment process,” Al-Hayat newspaper quoted the prince as saying.

Prince Sultan said the main objective of the program was to review the standard achieved by the armed forces and provide them with support where necessary.

He made this statement while inspecting the King Khaled Airbase in Khamis Mushayt, where he opened a center for electronics maintenance of F-15s, a commercial complex and an exhibition hall.

Prince Sultan also highlighted the government’s efforts to strengthen the armed forces by acquiring modern weaponry and providing intensive training to military personnel.

He inaugurated a new center for kidney diseases at the Armed Forces Hospital in the Southern Province. He donated SR2 million for Dhahran Al-Janoub Hospital to purchase dialysis units.

The new kidney center has 50 dialysis units, according to Col. Saeed Al-Arkan, director of armed forces program in the south. “Thirty-three of these units will be operated in the primary phase,” he added.

Prince Sultan also opened an officers club and a new reception hall at the base. The hall has seats for 350 people.