JEDDAH, 17 October 2005 — Saudi Arabia yesterday announced the creation of a National Security Council headed by former ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar ibn Sultan.
King Abdullah issued a decree approving the bylaws of the National Security Council, and in a separate decree named Prince Bandar its secretary general with the rank of a minister, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The formation of the National Security Council is part of the Kingdom’s campaign against terrorism.
Prince Bandar was Kingdom’s ambassador in Washington for 22 years until last July when he stepped down for personal reasons. Saudi ambassador to London and former intelligence chief Prince Turki Al-Faisal will succeed Prince Bandar in Washington.
The Foreign Ministry announced Prince Bandar’s resignation on July 20. “The prince requested King Fahd that he be relieved of his post for personal reasons and the king agreed to his request,” the ministry said in a statement.
During his 39 years of government service, Prince Bandar also worked in the armed forces. Saudi officials and businessmen have commended Prince Bandar’s role in strengthening Saudi-US relations.
The Kingdom has launched a massive campaign against Al-Qaeda-led terrorism, which threatened its national security. It has killed a large number of Al-Qaeda leaders in the country and arrested more than 500 militants suspected of involvement in terrorist activities.
The Kingdom has also worked out a national strategy to combat terrorism through the combined efforts of the Shoura Council, the Regional Councils and the Naif University of Security Sciences.
Prince Bandar, who was born on March 2, 1949 in Taif, is the son of Crown Prince Sultan. He was appointed ambassador to the US by King Fahd on Sept. 27, 1983. He graduated from the British Royal Air Force College at Cranwell, England in 1968 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF).
He received pilot training in both the United Kingdom and the United States, and has flown numerous fighter aircraft. During his 17-year military career, he attained the rank of lieutenant colonel and commanded fighter squadrons at three RSAF bases.
