The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was awarded at Al-Safa Palace here this evening Lamar medal, Afghanistan's top medal, presented to the monarch by visiting President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan. President Karzai expressed gratitude for granting Afghanistan's highest honor to the the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. For his part, the King thanked the president for this gift, saying that he accepts this medal from the president and the Afghan people "because of our respect and love for the people of Afghanistan". Then the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and President of Afghanistan held a meeting during at the outset of which the King welcomed the president, wishing him and his accompanying delegation a good stay in the Kingdom. For his part, Karzai thanked the monarch for warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to him and the accompanying delegation. The audience was attended by Prince Abdul-Ilah bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the King; Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence; and Prince Faisal bin Abdullah bin Mohammed, Minister of Education. On the Afghani side, the meeting was attended by Dr. Zelmai Rasool, the Foreign Minister; Nimatullah Shahrani, the Senior Advisor to the President; General Besmullah Mohammadi, the Minister of Interior; Mohammed Ismail, Acting Minister of Energy and Water; Jul Alrahman Gadi, Chairman of the Constitution Control Committee; and Sheikh Mohammed Giamuddin Kashef, Chief of Afghanistan Ulema Council.
