JEDDAH, 18 March 2007 — Measures to fight administrative corruption and improve the living condition of Saudi citizens as well as Saudi Arabia’s domestic and foreign policies are to figure high in the opening address of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to the Shoura Council’s annual session next week.

The date of the address will be announced soon.

Crown Prince Sultan, senior princes, Cabinet ministers and other high-ranking officials will attend the annual Shoura session. “We are looking forward to King Abdullah’s speech with great expectations,” said Ahmed Al-Yahya, assistant secretary-general of the 150-member consultative council.

“From the annual speech of the king at the Shoura we can deduce the Kingdom’s domestic and foreign policies. The king’s speech can be considered as the working program for the government and state,” Yahya said. “The speech will also give indications about the future course of the country.”

Asked whether the Shoura would be given greater powers to monitor the activities of government departments in order to fight corruption, Yahya said: “We look forward to King Abdullah enhancing the Shoura’s powers in light of its outstanding performance during the past several years.”

Abdul Mohsen Al-Zakari, a member of the Shoura, said he expected the king to speak about the government’s plans to boost the progress and prosperity of the people.