JEDDAH, 20 November 2005 — Saudi Arabia, which has been fighting a wave of violence blamed on Al-Qaeda militants, could put an end to terrorism within two years, said Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation.
“I can assure you that with the vigilance of security forces, intelligence agents and especially the Saudi people we might be able to end terrorism, God willing, within the next two years,” he told the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya satellite channel.
The crown prince however admitted that it would be difficult to get rid of terrorism completely. “No one in the world can prevent deviants,” he said referring to Al-Qaeda terror network.
Saudi security forces have been carrying out a successful campaign against Al-Qaeda terror suspects since May 2003.
Terrorists have killed more than 90 people including foreigners in the last two years and caused more than SR1 billion ($270 million) of damage in attacks on housing compounds and security force buildings. More than 40 security personnel and over 100 militants have also been killed in clashes, Saudi officials say. The Interior Ministry has issued two lists of Al-Qaeda suspects with a total of 62 militants. Many of them have been arrested or killed by police.
Prince Sultan is presently in Cairo on an official visit to Egypt and has met President Hosni Mubarak, Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Nazif and Defense Minister Muhammad Tantawi.
On Friday, the crown prince met Saudi students in Egypt and urged them to work hard in order to master modern science and technology.
“Knowledge cannot be bought with money but can be obtained by determination and hard work,” he told the Saudis pursuing their higher studies at Egyptian universities.
Prince Sultan offered his support for Saudi students’ clubs in both Cairo and Alexandria. There are more than 4,000 Saudi students, both male and female, in Egypt.
The crown prince underscored the progress achieved by the Kingdom in the education sector. “The government has allocated SR11 billion for new schools, universities, technical institutes and vocational training centers,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted him as saying. He emphasized the Kingdom’s plan to promote education further by opening new private and public universities and colleges within the next five years.
