RIYADH, 30 May — Prince Turki Al-Faisal, former director of intelligence, yesterday highlighted King Faisal’s efforts to promote global peace and said he was ready to go any length to ensure the welfare of Muslims and mobilize support for their causes.
He made this remarks while addressing a seminar on Saudi-Polish relations organized by King Faisal Islamic Studies and Research Center to mark the 70th anniversary of King Faisal’s historic visit to Poland in 1932 as the Kingdom’s foreign minister.
“If we start talking about King Faisal and his achievements, it will never end,” said Prince Turki. He noted the king’s endeavors in the service of the Arab and Islamic Ummah.
He pointed out that Prince Faisal had attended an international peace conference held in France at the end of World War I, on behalf of King Abdul Aziz.
“Within 45 days, before his martyrdom, he had visited Egypt, Syria and Jordan,” he said, adding that he had also planned to visit the Latin American countries of Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela.
Poland’s Ambassador Krzysztof Plominski underscored the strong relations between Saudi Arabia and his country. “The photographs displayed at this center are the best evidence for the grand reception received by Prince Faisal when he visited Warsaw,” he said. “Saudis who visit our country will receive the same welcome,” he added.
Plominski said his country considered Saudi Arabia as an important partner. “We’ll make all efforts to make use of the opportunities available because of the strong cooperation between our two countries,” he added.
A Saudi trade delegation recently visited Poland to explore prospects of cooperation.
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal was expected to attend the seminar which was organized in association with the Embassy of Poland. But he did not come due to previously scheduled engagements. Prince Saud’s speech was however read out by Nizar Madani, assistant foreign minister.
In his speech, Prince Saud expressed his hope that this seminar as well as the one held in Warsaw last week, to mark the royal visit, would strengthen Saudi-Polish ties. Prince Turki delivered a lecture on “A personal view on the Middle East issue” at the Warsaw meeting.
The participants in the Riyadh seminar heard lectures on various topics including the effect of King Faisal’s international tours on his foreign policy, the impact of King Faisal’s visit to Poland, and the relations between Saudi Arabia and Poland from a historical perspective.
