TORONTO, 1 August 2005 - The news of the passing away of King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud was received with sadness and grief in Canada.
Prime Minister Paul Martin led the country in offering condolences and paid glowing tributes to the departed King.
“On behalf of all Canadians, I offer my condolences to the royal family and to the people of Saudi Arabia. King Fahd, Custodian of the two holy mosques in Mecca and Medina, was known for his unwavering commitment to his people and to the unity of the Arab nations. During his reign, King Fahd steered Saudi Arabia toward growth and prosperity. He also played a pivotal role in international affairs, by promoting peace and stability in the Middle East," said Paul Martin in a statement.
He said that Canada is looking forward to cooperate with King Abdullah in achieving peace in the Middle East.
"We look forward to working with King Abdullah and Saudi Arabia in facing the challenges ahead and in continuing to build upon the relationship that King Fahd helped to develop between our two countries,” he added.
Canada's diplomatic ties with the Canada were formally established in 1973 and have generally been cordial. Saudi Arabia is Canada's largest trading partner in the Arabian Peninsula with two-way trade reaching $1.4 billion in 2003.
A postponed visit of King Abdullah from June 2001 has not yet been realized.
