Jeddah –Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, deputy prime minister and minister of interior, discussed with the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma means of strengthening bilateral relations in various fields, especially with regard to enhancing security cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
The meeting came as a complementary to the talks held earlier by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz with Koroma.
The meeting also reviewed the latest developments in the Middle East region, efforts exerted towards them and Saudi Arabia and Sierra Leone’s position on them.
The meeting was attended by: advisor to the Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman al-Fadley, Chief of General Intelligence Khalid al-Humaidan, Deputy Director General of General Investigation Lieutenant General Abdullah al-Qarni, Vice President and Managing Director of Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) Yousef bin Ibrahim al-Bassam, Special Secretary of the Crown Prince Ahmed bin Saleh al-Ajlan and Saudi Ambassador to Guinea and Sierra Leone Suleiman bin Saleh al-Furaih.
It was also attended by the delegation accompanying Koroma: Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Samura Kamara, Minister of Finance Momodu Kargbo, Minister of Mines and Natural Resources Minkailu Mansaray, Minister of Education Minkailu Bah, Minister of Information and Communication Mohamed Bangura and Sierra Leone Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mohamed Sillah Kargbo.
In a separate development and under the patronage of King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed, who is also the chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee, will open in Madinah the symposium on Hajj and Umrah on May 17.
The symposium will be organized at Taibah University by the Makkah-based Umm al-Qura University.
Rector of Umm Al-Qura University, Bakri Assas, who is also the dean of the center of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah researches, lauded the excellent services provided to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
The center was able over four decades to conduct hundreds of studies, provide hundreds of projects and hold dozens of meetings and forums, which were entirely aimed at serving pilgrims and pilgrimage.
“The Kingdom has dedicated all of its human and technological potential in the service of pilgrims and visitors,” Assas said in order to attract researchers and experts from all universities and those interested in studying Hajj and Umrah.
He pointed out that the efforts of the Institute are part of the activity of Umm al-Qura University in serving Hajj, Umrah and “Ziyara”, which is inspired from the efforts of the Saudi government in serving the pilgrims.
Dean of the center Sami Barhameen said the scientific committee of the symposium has approved 112 out of 269 research papers to be discussed during eight sessions, averaging 46 papers every day.
“All the papers have been thoroughly checked, evaluated and endorsed by the scientific committee according to the international standards,” he said.
Bahrameen said the symposium will focus on a number of themes including Hajj jurisprudence, issues pertaining to Umrah, crowd management, economy, architecture, environment, health, media, technology and its applications and the impact of new projects and initiatives in the promotion of Hajj services.
He said the symposium will also discuss the participation of the public in serving pilgrims and visitors to Madinah.