Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Prince Naif calls for return to state of stability in the region | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat – Saudi Arabia Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud stressed the importance of protecting the lives of Arab citizens in order to protect and strengthen the Arab world. Prince Naif made his comments during a speech at the annual graduation ceremony of the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences [NAUSS].

In his speech, the Saudi Second Deputy Prime Minister said that “we cannot ignore the situation in the Arab world, and we – led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Crown Prince, and the [Saudi] government, not to mention the Saudi people – are living with this Arab situation, and we pray to God that this situation sees a return to stability soon.”

He added that “we do not rule out the presence of interferences to ensure the continuation of this state of chaos and in-fighting between the Arabs, and this is something that we must all reject. Here I would like to confirm that Saudi Arabia – both its leadership and its people – lives in a state of compassion with its Arab brothers everywhere, and we hope that these events resolve themselves as soon as possible.”

The following is the full text of Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz’s speech given at the annual NAUSS graduation ceremony and as published on the NAUSS website:

In the name of God, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy. All praise is for God alone, Lord of creation, and may his peace and blessings be upon Mohammed and his family and companions.

May the peace and blessings of God be upon you all. It makes me very happy this evening to meet with you all to celebrate the graduation of many of our brothers in doctorate and master’s degree programs – as well as those having completed diplomas.

I thank Professor Abdul Aziz Bin Sagr Al-Ghamdi and all of the academic staff for sacrificing their time and efforts in producing these graduates. Our nation thus receives these graduates who shall strive in service of their religion, king and country. Likewise, those graduates from other Arab countries must also fulfil this obligation in serving their people.

There is no doubt that these graduates have expended much effort and sacrificed much time in reaching their goals; the most important of efforts from now on will be in the workplace, in application of their academic knowledge; there is no better than the pious person who carries out his work with perfection and sincerity to his community and country.

The specialisations of these graduates cover every area and field of security and it is an advancement in security itself that such specialists are to work in its many fields. This is in addition to their sincerity to God and faith in him.

It makes us proud to serve this country whose legislation is taken from the Quran and the example of the Prophet Mohammed peace be upon him and which is led by His Majesty King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his heir – His Majesty Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz. Every citizen is proud to serve this country that was established by His Majesty King Abdul Aziz – may God reward him with goodness for serving Islam and benefiting all of the past and present citizens of this country.

The most beneficial thing produced by a country are its knowledgeable citizens; we live in a time in which ignorance is not acceptable and in addition our religion orders us to gain knowledge. God says in the Quran: “Are those who have knowledge and those who do not equal?”

Those speakers present tonight have praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in being perhaps the most successful country in fighting terrorism and the world leader in rehabilitating terrorists who have fallen into the hands of the law. Every country must do its uppermost in seeking to dry up sources of terrorism; if those sources remain, they will without doubt produce terrorists. We hope and pray to God that these terrorists are guided to correction and we are employing all means, including the most developed academic studies, to fight all terrorist activities. These criminal activities have wronged many, including damaging the image of Islam, the Arabs and in particular the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

I thank you all for attending this evening and congratulations to all of the graduates. I hope and pray that God guides you, and as you have succeeded in your academic studies, I hope that the effects of your knowledge will become clear in your work in service of our country and its citizens.

May the peace and blessings of God be upon you all.