JEDDAH, 25 August 2005 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has won a special award from Poland’s mass-circulation newspaper, Gazetta Wyborcza, for his humanitarian services.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeea, executive director general of health affairs at the National Guard, will receive the award on behalf of the king.
The daily decided to present the annual award to the Saudi king in appreciation of the humanitarian assistance he extended to the Polish conjoined twins Olga and Daria Kotacz who were separated at King Abdul Aziz Medical City in Riyadh in January this year.
Al-Rabeea and his delegation including Abdul Aziz Al-Awad, assistant executive director for academic affairs, and Sami Al-Shaalan, director of public relations, have already arrived in the Polish capital Warsaw.
Gazetta Wyborcza’s award is presented to prominent international personalities in recognition of their humanitarian services. Rabeea will receive the award for the king as well as a personal award for him at a public ceremony in Warsaw tomorrow.
The operation to separate the Polish twins was conducted by a team of doctors led by Dr. Rabeea. Abdullah, who was crown prince at the time, visited the twins at the hospital and said: “It shows how humane Islam is. It also shows the human face of the Saudi people who are holding fast to their faith. We are only servants of humanity and our people. This is what our religion commands us to do.” He said the people of Saudi Arabia hold high respect and appreciation for the friendly Polish people.
The Saudi delegation visited the heart center in Warsaw. Rabeea is expected to hold a press conference highlighting the Kingdom’s progress, especially in the health sector. He was scheduled to meet Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski yesterday morning. The delegation will also visit the birthplace of the twins tomorrow.
