Government | Monday 18 April, 2016 1:37 am |

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman will sponsor a special conference to commemorate late foreign minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal who was Saudi Arabia’s chief diplomat for more than 40 years.

The three-day conference, under the theme “Saud of Nations”, will be organized by King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS) and will be held at King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center in Riyadh.

Chairman of the board or directors of KFCRIS, Prince Turki Al-Faisal expressed thanks and appreciation for the King’s kind sponsorship of the conference and said it was a reflection of the leadership’s care and concern about the nationals who have made sacrifices in the service of their homeland, king and people.

He said the King’s sponsorship of the conference is a manifestation of his appreciation of Saud Al-Faisal’s blessed efforts which he has exerted over 40 years traveling between the world capitals to explain the Kingdom’s polices and defend the interests of the Islamic and Arab nation.

Prince Turki said the conference will shed light on Prince Saud Al-Faisal’s achievements and his personal characteristics.

He said the agenda of the conference is replete with sessions, lectures and meetings to tackle some examples of Prince Saud Al-Faisal’s diplomatic successes including, among others, the establishment of the GCC, the activation of the Arab League, the defense of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, combating terrorism and ending the Lebanese civil war which lasted for more than 15 years.

Prince Turki said the conference will also outline the Kingdom’s foreign policy during the time of the late foreign minister.

He said more than 2,000 people including princes, ministers, diplomats, academicians, researchers and historians will attend the conference, which is taking place amidst great regional and international changes.

Prince Saud Al-Faisal was the longest serving foreign minister in the world. He succeeded his father, King Faisal, as foreign minister and served under the reigns of four Kings who were Khaled, Fahd, Abdullah and Salman.