DHAHRAN, 21 December — Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, inaugurated a number of utility projects at the King Abdul Aziz Air Base here yesterday.
Prince Sultan is in the Eastern Province as part of a tour of military commands during the Eid holidays. He commended the armed forces personnel for their dedication and commitment to protect the security of the nation.
Addressing the four wings of the Saudi armed forces at a function on Wednesday, the prince said the Kingdom has constituted a strategic force ready to defend the holy places and to safeguard the honor of the nation.
Prince Sultan also stressed the services offered by the armed forces to civilians. "The duties of the armed forces are not confined to the military service, but they also have a humanitarian responsibility," the prince said.
The defense minister noted the services rendered by the armed forces in health care, rescue operations and development projects.
Prince Sultan opened an annex to the military police wing and a first-aid center at the base.
The opening of an officer’s club at the base brought loud cheers from the cadets and officers present at the ceremony.
Prince Sultan later opened a rehabilitation and infrastructure development project at the base.
Officials at the base briefed the defense minister on various features of the project which included the building of a power supply network, the replacement of 30,000 meters of cables and the renovation of switching stations. It also included the water and sewage networks, a water treatment plant and booster stations and a workshop for repairing and replacing damaged pipelines.
The prince also inspected the fighter jets and helicopters stationed at the base.
He paid a visit to Prince Abdul Aziz ibn Muhammad Abdullah ibn Juluwi who is being treated at the Armed Forces Hospital at the air base.
The commander of the Eastern Command, Gen. Suroor M. Al-Harbi, and commander of the base, Maj. Gen. Moayed Ayedh Al-Lahaibi, received Prince Sultan on arrival at the base.
Eastern Province Governor Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd and his deputy Prince Saud ibn Naif accompanied Prince Sultan to the air base.
Maj. Gen. Al-Lahaibi said the visit by Prince Sultan reflected the care and concern of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, and Prince Sultan himself for the armed forces. He said the newly opened project will help improve the facilities at the base.
In the evening, Prince Sultan hosted a dinner at his palace in Rakah for military officers, senior citizens, businessmen and religious scholars.
Tomorrow, Prince Sultan will open Prince Sultan Disabled Center and a tourist city at Aziziyah. He will leave the Eastern Province on Sunday.
