RIYADH: Saudi Arabia began on Saturday celebrations to mark the return to the Kingdom of Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, after a yearlong absence for medical treatment.
The apex legislative body of the Kingdom, the Shoura Council, has announced it is to hold a session on Monday to discuss and rejoice the homecoming of Prince Sultan, while the Ministry of Education has planned to celebrate the occasion in all its schools across the Kingdom on Monday.
Hamza Khoshain, a Shoura Council member, told Arab News the Shoura, would hold the session in which top Shoura officials and members will exchange greetings, speak about the crown prince and congratulate the Saudi leadership on the return of the prince.
He said that a major program sponsored by the Ministry of Interior would be held here on Sunday night to celebrate the occasion. As part of the celebrations, a huge rally at the Olympic Stadium in Riyadh is scheduled, according to Ministry of Interior spokesman Maj. Gen. Saleh Al-Malik.
On this occasion, the capital has been decorated with illuminating lights, while major districts of the city look festive with streets festooned with Crown Prince Sultan’s photographs.
The Ministry of Education will be celebrating the return of Prince Sultan by holding a national writing competition. Besides poetry, story and composition contests, there will be painting, drawing, school theaters and graphic design competitions.
Asked about the ministry’s programs, a spokesman of the Ministry of Education said that the winners would be rewarded with suitable prizes. The ministry has fixed next Monday as the day for all general education schools to celebrate the return of the crown prince.
A cultural program will also be organized at King Fahd Cultural Center here, said a Saudi official, adding the two major programs including the main celebration at Olympic Complex are open to the general public. All government agencies, private organizations and people of all walks of life from across the Kingdom will attend the celebrations.
Speaking on this occasion, Abdulmalek Al-Sheikh, deputy secretary-general of Prince Sultan International Prize for Water, said: “Crown Prince Sultan is a charismatic leader and a well-wisher of one and all.”
He said that the homecoming of Prince Sultan would make it possible for us to distribute water prizes through his hands again. The Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW) is a scientific prize, established on Oct. 21, 2002 by the crown prince.
Asked about the plan of the Riyadh municipality and the Municipal Council to hold special programs of celebrations, Ibarhim Al-Quaiyid, a founding elected member of the municipal corporation, said that the Riyadh municipality and all municipal counselors would join the celebrations.
On Saturday, a large number of world leaders especially Arab heads of state and people including ministers, Ulema (Islamic scholars), envoys, high-ranking officials, academicians and leading businessmen have also expressed their happiness over the safe return.
They described Prince Sultan as a distinguished leader with exceptional wisdom, experience, charitable deeds and humanitarian actions. Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian president; King Abdallah of Jordan; and Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemeni president, were the first on Saturday to call Prince Sultan and extend their congratulations and good wishes.
Also, Prince Salman, governor of Riyadh, received a large number of well-wishers, who came to greet him on his safe return to the homeland and congratulated him on the safe return and recovery of Prince Sultan.
The well-wishers included several ministers and top-ranking officials including the Kingdom’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Asheikh.
