JEDDAH, 21 September 2004 — Crown Prince Abdullah yesterday emphasized the importance of strengthening national unity to confront terrorism and other challenges.
“The cohesion between Saudi leadership and people as well as the efforts of security and military forces will defeat those who intend to undermine the Kingdom’s security and stability,” he added.
Addressing the weekly Cabinet meeting, Prince Abdullah also expressed his deep concern over the worsening security situation in Iraq where scores of people are killed daily in explosions and armed encounters.
The Cabinet meeting called upon the international community to work for ending the “human catastrophe” in Iraq, the Saudi Press Agency said.
The meeting denounced the continuing “criminal and provocative actions” being committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people.
Earlier at the outset of the meeting, Prince Abdullah congratulated the Saudi people on the occasion of the National Day, which falls on Sept. 23. “The National Day reminds us of the great efforts made by King Abdul Aziz and his men to unify the Kingdom,” he pointed out.
The crown prince highlighted the tremendous progress achieved by Saudi Arabia over the years under the leadership of King Fahd, “thanks to its balanced policies based on Islamic principles.” He underlined the Kingdom’s efforts to establish strong relations with other countries.
Prince Abdullah attributed the Kingdom’s achievements to the unity and solidarity between Saudi leadership and people, which he added, strengthened the country and “protected it from sedition, and other dangerous challenges.”
The Kingdom has to maintain this national unity to achieve more progress and prosperity, he said.
The Cabinet meeting urged Saudis and expatriates to cooperate with census officials who started their work last Wednesday. Some 42,000 officials, mostly teachers, are involved in the monthlong census operation.
The meeting authorized the interior minister or his deputy to sign an agreement with Turkey on the exchange of wanted suspects. It also endorsed the World Health Organization Agreement on Combating Tobacco and another international agreement on the security of ships and port facilities as well as alterations to the 1974 international convention for the safety of life at sea.
King Fahd Medical City
Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie, meanwhile, announced yesterday that the 1,095-bed King Fahd Medical City in Riyadh, the largest health facility in the Middle East, would be officially opened on Oct. 5. He said the medical city, which comprises four hospitals, was established at a total cost of SR2.3 billion and is provided with modern health facilities. The 459-bed main hospital in the city has all speciality clinics to treat chronic diseases, the minister pointed out.
