RIYADH, 6 June 2007 — Des Browne, British secretary of state for defense, wrapped up a two-day visit to the capital yesterday and held talks with officials to strengthen defense relations between the two countries and review the security situation in the region.
During his brief stay in Riyadh, the minister held talks with Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, who hosted him at a luncheon on Monday. Subsequently, he met Prince Khaled ibn Sultan, assistant minister of defense and aviation, at the ministry, and also paid visits to the British Military Mission and the National Guard headquarters.
Yesterday, he held discussions with Prince Miteb ibn Abdullah, assistant commander of the National Guard for Military Affairs and Maj. Gen. Muhammad Al-Omani of the Saudi Special Security Forces. British Ambassador William Patey also attended the talks.
Commenting on the visit, Alex McDonald-Vitale, spokesman at the British Embassy, said: “The visit provided a useful opportunity for both parties to renew friendships and exchange views on issues of mutual interests.” He added that defense links are part of the important bilateral ties.
The spokesman said that Browne visited the Kingdom for the first time as secretary of state for defense. “The meetings gave the two sides the opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues, including regional security concerns, defense links and counterterrorism,” he noted.
He also visited technological and industrial programs that focus on the transfer of technology and the creation of technical and industrial employment for Saudi nationals within the Kingdom.
Browne, who was on a Gulf tour, left for Dubai yesterday. He visited Oman before his visit to the Kingdom on the first leg of his regional tour.
