King holds annual reception for Head of States and Hajj Missions

Mina, Saudi Arabia, December 09, SPA -- The Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud hosted today the annual
reception for the Islamic personalities and heads of Hajj mission,
who are performing this year's Hajj.

The distinguished personalities included Sudanese President Omer
Hasan Al-Bashir, Palestine's President Mahmoud Abbas and Chechen's
President Ramadan Ahmad Qadirov.

The reception was attended by Prince Abdul-Rahman bin Abdul-Aziz, the
Deputy Defense and Aviation Minister; Prince Miteb bin Abdulaziz, the
Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz,
the Minister of Interior and Chairman of The Supreme Hajj Committee;
Prince Khaled Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Makkah region and
Chairman of the Central Hajj Committee, Prince Abdul-Ilah bin
Abdulaziz, Advisor to the King and Prince Miqren bin Abdulaziz, the
Head of the General Intelligence.

The reception was also attended by a number of Ulema (Islamic
Scholars), Cabinet Ministers, senior officials and the ambassadors of
Arab and Islamic countries accredited to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In his address, Minister of Hajj Dr Fouad bin Abdul-Salam Al-Farsi,
welcomed the King on this occasion. He also greeted Heads of states,
Princes, Ulema (Islamic Scholars) and Cabinet Ministers.

Addressing the King, Dr Al-Farsi said "I believe fully that every
one of us who is present in this hall is honored by you and
high-ranking personalities who came here from all over the world to
perform Hajj. All of them feel happiness and satisfaction by
performing Hajj rituals under fine and easy circumstances, with the
blessings of Allah Al-mighty, then by the efforts and services
offered to them by your prudent government as well as all
governmental sectors which are working together in accordance with a
strategic plan to implement your daily and continuous directives as
well as your firm keenness to eliminate all obstacles for the
interests of the guests of Allah Almighty and to provide all
necessary means for their comfort everywhere in the holy places."

Again addressing the King, Dr. Al-Farsi said "the government of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ever since the time of its great founder -
your father the late King Abdulaziz (May Allah show mercy to him),
was and is still exerting great efforts to ensure more development
for Makkah, Madinah and the holy places. Moreover, the Government is
allocating huge budgets in order to make the process of Construction
and Reforms in conformity with the latest advances and meet the
necessary requirements.