JEDDAH, 2 August 2005 — Saudi Arabia’s new ruler, King Abdullah, who championed modest reforms, is an advocate of Arab unity and world peace.
“King Abdullah is deeply concerned with the Arab and Muslim affairs and works for their unity. He also believes that Islam is a strong link and pillar to achieve Arab and Islamic unity,” the Saudi Press Agency said.
In a commentary, the Kingdom’s official news agency also said that King Abdullah had made a lot of efforts to settle differences between Arab countries.
“King Abdullah has worked to improve the Kingdom’s relations with other countries,” SPA said, adding that he led Saudi delegations to a number of regional and international summits.
In April this year, Prince Abdullah met with US President George W. Bush at his Texas ranch and discussed major issues including Palestine and Iraq as well as ways of strengthening bilateral ties.
King Abdullah has vowed to crush terrorism and called for the establishment of an international counterterrorism center.
Hand-in-hand with the security measures, King Abdullah initiated several economic and political reforms including a dialogue on national challenges and partial elections to municipal councils.
“The state is proceeding, with the help of God, in its gradual and studied course of reform,” he said, vowing to ignore both conservatives calling for “stagnation and immobility” and liberals seeking a “leap into darkness and reckless adventure.”
In the wider Middle East, King Abdullah, an advocate of Arab rights, floated a land-for-peace proposal to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict.
His peace proposal, which was endorsed by an Arab summit, offers Israel normal Arab ties in exchange for full Israeli withdrawal from all Arab land occupied in the 1967 Middle East war.
Conscious of the social costs of unemployment, King Abdullah also urged the private sector to take control of the economy from the state. He has tried to reform the oil-reliant economy, promoting a liberalized investment law, an overhaul of the capital market and opening the gas sector to foreign firms.
Born in Riyadh in 1924, King Abdullah received his initial education and training from his father King Abdul Aziz. He is known for his simplicity, farsightedness and moral integrity. “King Abdullah deals with others with an open heart and listens calmly to those who talk with him,” SPA said.
An avid reader, King Abdullah meets with scholars and thinkers and other prominent personalities from within and outside the country.
He is the founder of the King Abdul Aziz Public Library in Riyadh and another library in the Moroccan city of Casablanca. The annual Janadriya Heritage and Culture Festival, organized by the National Guard, is the brainchild of the king.
King Abdullah also loves desert which he visits whenever he gets time. Horse riding is another of his hobbies and he has a good collection of distinguished Arab horses. He established the Equestrian Club in Riyadh and encouraged others to promote the sports.
In 1962, he was appointed commander of the National Guard, which included in the beginning those who supported King Abdul Aziz in unifying the Kingdom. In 1975, he became the second deputy premier before being named crown prince in 1982.
King Abdullah is the chairman of the Royal Family Council, Supreme Economic Council, Supreme Council for Petroleum and Minerals, and Prince Abdullah Foundation for Housing Development. Crown Prince Sultan, who is deputy premier and defense and aviation minister, is an experienced statesman. Born on Jan. 5, 1930 in Riyadh, he studied the Qur’an and other subjects under the guidance of well-known scholars. He has been a member of official Saudi delegations to Arab and Islamic summits as well as to UN General Assembly meetings. Prince Sultan began his official career in 1953 when he was appointed agriculture minister. In 1955, he was named minister of communications before becoming the minister of defense in Oct. 21, 1962. He has played a big role in developing the country’s armed forces and building military bases.
On June 13, 1982, Prince Sultan was appointed second deputy premier. Prince Sultan has chaired the higher committees for educational policy and administrative reforms and Manpower Council for several years. He is currently the chairman of the Supreme Commission for Islamic Preaching and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, the board of directors of Saudi Arabian Airlines, the Supreme Commission for Tourism, the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD) and other bodies.
Prince Sultan addressed the Untied Nations in 1985 and led the Kingdom’s delegation to its golden jubilee celebrations in 1995. He has also received medals and other honors from many countries. He is the chairman of Sultan Charitable Foundation, which was established in 1995.
