Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Regarding Prince Ahmad | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Saudi Deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmad Bin Abdulaziz holds an extremely important post. He is very experienced in [combating terrorism], and his long experience in this field is so well known that it needs no testimony. He is reticent, but his method in handling important issues in his country has always commanded respect and appreciation. A few days ago, he commented on developments in combating terrorism in Saudi Arabia with the usual sobriety and equanimity with which people have become familiar. What was especially striking was his remark that the Al-Qaeda’s begging for donations has met with no response in our country. This demonstrated that the sympathy that this organization had commanded in the past has declined after its lies and tricks on which it relied have been exposed.

Prince Ahmad denied, directly and unequivocally, two important accusations: First, he denied that wanted Saudi nationals in Pakistan were arrested and extradited to Saudi Arabia and, second, he denied recent reports that Saudi troops and fighter jets participated in the combat against the Huthists in Yemen. He made clear that the Huthists make a big mistake by reiterating these accusations.

Prince Ahmad reiterated Saudi Arabia’s stand that the door is still open for the return of members of the deviant group, urging them to return to the right path and to keep away from those who propagate deviation from the right and lure them to follow that unrighteous path.

Prince Ahmad made these remarks after opening an international seminar on managing disasters held in the Saudi capital of Riyadh in which delegations of more than 50 countries participated. He emphasized Saudi Arabia’s compliance with all international charters and agreements on world peace and security. He said that Saudi Arabia plays an effective role in extending assistance to the countries that are hit with natural disasters. It was worth noting that Prince Ahmad said that Saudi Arabia distinguishes between two types of disasters: first, traditional ones like earthquakes, volcano eruptions, and hurricanes, and second, those caused by humans, like climate change and epidemics. The seminar was a prompt and practical response by Saudi Arabia which this year faced successive tremors in a small villages, which forced it to take strict precautionary measures and evacuate the people of the village to another area. In addition, a number of Saudi cities were this year hit by unprecedented stand storms. Saudi Arabia this year made major preparations for the pilgrimage season while facing the challenge of the H1N1 flu. These efforts should not be ignored.

Disasters have developed and their consequences have become more widespread despite increase in awareness and improvement of transportation and communication. The frequent repetition of disasters increases the chances of casualties affecting countries and peoples. The seminar was held at the proper time. While the party that participated in the seminar was the civil defense, disasters affect all sectors without exception. It is hoped that the recommendations of the seminar will become general culture so that tests will be occasionally carried on evacuation and on handling the impact of disasters. People should build shelters and acquaint themselves with the use of warning sirens, methods of evacuation, and with everything that has to do with emergencies and disasters.