The government will give top priority to tackling youth issues such as unemployment, housing and health care, Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, said on Sunday.
“Focusing on tackling these issues and overcoming these challenges will serve as a prime investment for the future,” he said in a statement on the eve of the Kingdom’s 83rd National Day.
Prince Salman also emphasized the importance of unity and stability to achieve greater progress and prosperity. “Stability is an important factor for the progress of any country. Civilizations developed as a result of the stability of nations and their governments,” the crown prince said, adding that stability would ensure protection of rights and create a secure atmosphere for work and production.
“This will, in turn, accelerate growth, encourage investment, create more job opportunities and boost economic expansion,” the statement said.
“Stability demands serious work to establish systematic justice. It will strengthen monitoring agencies, thus contributing to eradicating corruption, promoting fairness and protecting rights,” he explained.
Saudis will celebrate National Day on Monday to mark the unification of the country by King Abdul Aziz.
Programs including seminars and folk dances have been planned by government departments to mark the occasion.
Prince Salman emphasized the strong relationship between Saudis and their leadership. “Those who have betted on seeing our country destabilized have lost their money.”
He said the people of Saudi Arabia stand united like their great forefathers. “We face challenges with courage and with the support of citizens. We balance between the interests of individuals and the nation without doing injustice or harm to others,” he said.
He commended King Abdullah for introducing notable reforms. “Such efforts highlight the king’s wisdom.” He said the government had identified shortcomings in the areas of employment, health care, quality of education and efficiency of government departments and had taken corrective action.
“We welcome constructive criticism,” the crown prince said.
Mohammed Tayeb, director general of the Foreign Ministry’s branch office in the Makkah region, commended the efforts made by King Abdul Aziz and his men to unify the Kingdom and reinforce peace and stability across the country.
“King Abdul Aziz also laid down the country’s foreign policy, which is based on noninterference in the internal affairs of other countries, supporting Arab and Islamic causes and promoting world peace and stability,” he told Arab News.
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