Ministry of Hajj holds annual Hajj reception

Jeddah, December 13, SPA -- The Ministry of Hajj held here yesterday
its annual Hajj reception in honor of Heads and members of Hajj
missions as well as its guests.

During the reception, prizes for the best media coverage for this
year's Hajj were announced.


Minister of Hajj Dr. Fouad bin Abdulsalam Al-Farsi attended the
reception.


In a key address, Pakistan's Minister of Endowments Hamid
Al-Kazmi who leads his country's delegation to Hajj, congratulated
the participating delegations on the success of this year's Hajj
within the framework of the efforts of the Saudi authorities and upon
directives of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Speaking on the occasion, the Head of the "Pilgrims' Guides" of
Southeast Asia, Zuhair Abdul-Hamid Sdaiyo, on behalf of the employees
of The Tawafah (Circumambulation) Establishment attributed the
success of this year's Hajj to Allah Almighty's blessings and then to
the sincere and ongoing efforts exerted by all Saudi Governmental
sectors participating in the Hajj works, especially the Ministry of
Hajj.


Sdaiyo emphasized that the Ministry of Hajj has exerted outstanding
efforts in order to ensure the success of this year's Hajj in
addition to the continuous meetings held by the Minister of Hajj Dr.
Fouad bin Abdulsalam Al-Farsi with the heads of missions, which have
borne fruits and realized such a high level of success for this
year's Hajj as sought by the leaders of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

He also attributed the success of this year's Hajj to the authentic,
wise and systematic studies prepared by the Saudi government and
supervised personally by Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Interior
Minister, who is also the Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee and
implemented by the personal follow-up of Prince Khalid Al Faisal,
Governor of Makkah Region, who is also the Chairman of the Central
Hajj Committee and Prince Abdulaziz bin Majed bin Abdulaziz, Governor
of Al Madinah Region.
In an address at the gathering, the Chief-Editor of Al-Madina
Newspaper, Dr. Fahd bin Hassan Al Aqran, whose Arabic newspaper won
the media award for the coverage of Hajj this year, stated that
everyone is looking forward to realizing more of achievements and
successes at all levels after Eid al-Adha and the grand success of
this year's Hajj.

Dr. Aqran attributed his paper's winning the award this year's
to the co-operative spirit of its team work who worked hard and
tirelessly, pointing out that his newspaper has adhered to
credibility, authenticity, impartiality and professional fairness in
its coverage of Hajj.

He commended also the efforts of the wise government of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which was keen to serve the pilgrims, and
for this mission, it mobilized all its material and high-level
experienced human capabilities in dealing with the Hajj occasion
which is considered the biggest world-wide.

In his keynote address, Minister of Hajj Dr. Fouad bin Abdulsalam
Al-Farsi emphasized that the process of development in the Two Holy
Mosques, as well as in other Holy Sites doesn't stop a day in order
to meet the needs and face the challenges with confidence and
competence.

He reviewed the varied phases, citing the progress at the
Jamarat Bridge to date transforming it a giant civilized facility,
facilitating the flow of approximately 300,000 pilgrims per hour.
Another glaring feature of this continuing progress and development
is the huge expansion works undertaken at Al-Safa and Al-Marwah,
which doubled its area during this year's Hajj season, compared to
its previous area during the Hajj season of 1428 A.H (2007 A.D).


Dr. Al-Farsi also pointed to the expansions witnessed by Al Madinah
and the Holy Mosque in Makkah, leading to good returns observed
closely by the guests of Allah Almighty.

The Saudi Minister of Hajj highlighted the importance of the "Big
Hajj Symposium" organized this year and said it dealt with a vital
subject: "The ability of Hajj in the light of the purposes of
legitimacy and contemporary reality".


He referred also to the Symposium's findings and wished that its
recommendations would be helpful in promoting the awareness and
deepening the understanding of the purposes of the tolerant Islamic
Sharia, so that those concerned wherever they are located, could
contribute in the delivery of the expected messages in enlightening
the public.


Dr. Al Farsi said that this reception is considered as a good
occasion to honor writers, journalists and media men who are
contributing with distinct efforts each in their fields of
specializations.


He lauded them and praised their achievements, emphasizing that
encouraging them is to stimulate others to follow their noble
direction.


Concluding his address, the Minister of Hajj expressed his thanks
and appreciation to all sectors and employees of the Ministry of
Hajj, wishing them all success and to the pilgrims an acceptable Hajj
and forgiveness by Allah Almighty, Allah Willing.


He honored the Prize Committee and distributed the prizes of the
best "Works of Journalism" for 1428 A.H (2007 A.D).