Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat – Crown prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General said in a statement to the Saudi Press agency that:

“Some have misinterpreted the statements I made to the officers of the armed forces last Tuesday, November 13, regarding the succession system. It is my duty to clarify the truth so as to avoid misinterpretation.

The inception of idea behind the succession system belongs to my brother, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. While he was crown prince, he presented it to his late brother, King Fahd, may he rest in peace, in a letter that was dated 31st of July 1984 in which he explained the idea and its legitimacy.

In another letter dated 14th of September 1984, King Fahd answered saying: ‘Undoubtedly all the proposals made by your royal highness regarding the systems will hopefully be suitable. I hope to examine them with you, especially the idea of succession as proposed by your royal highness.’

This clearly indicates that the idea belongs to King Abdullah, may Allah protect him, and that it was presented to his late brother King Fahd as part of exchanges that take place between brothers and rulers regarding the affairs of the state.

For reasons unknown, the idea was not put into practice until King Abdullah assumed power and issued the new decree last Ramadan after conducting the appropriate research and studies over the last period.”

May Allah protect my brother, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, to serve his religion and country and the Arab and Muslim nations.