Abdullah Abyan and Muhammad Al-Ahmadi Okaz/Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH – Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, said King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has been following developments in the Muslim world and that is why he called for the Makkah Islamic summit which will be held on Aug.14-15. At a press conference held Saturday at his residence in Jeddah, Prince Khaled welcomed all Arab and Muslim leaders to the summit. He said King Abdullah was keen to hold the summit during the holy month of Ramadan and in the holy city of Makkah, especially in light of the current developments in the Muslim world. “Leaders need to meet and deliberate and exchange viewpoints. All developments taking place in the region should be considered and their ramifications on our nations should be studied. The Monarch wants to make sure that the summit issues decisions which serve the interests of all Arab and Muslim countries.” Prince Khaled also said a new road plan is being designed at the behest of the Monarch to organize traffic flow and make necessary arrangements to ensure that everything runs smoothly and leaders enter and leave Makkah easily. He said the Kingdom enjoys considerable experience in holding big events during busy seasons and it has done this successfully for many years during the Haj and Umrah seasons. “This country is capable of organizing and managing successful summits, thanks to the leadership and the cooperation of its citizens.” The Emir of Makkah Region cited the Islamic summit held in 2005 in Makkah as an example of a successful event. He emphasized the importance of the role played by residents of Makkah in making the summit successful. Preparation for success The committees in charge of organizing the summit have held several meetings during which preparation steps were discussed in detail. “Every member in these committees is working nonstop to design a reception event that befits the status of leaders and their delegations. To them and all government agencies involved in the process, I extend my thanks,” said Prince Khaled. Daily activities won't be disrupted The summit should not disrupt daily activities in Makkah and Jeddah. Pilgrims and visitors will be able to perform their rituals inside the Grand Mosque with ease. Prince Khaled urged citizens and residents in Makkah not to crowd places around the Grand Mosque, especially areas between Al-Safa Palace and Makkah Waqf Towers. He also called upon citizens and residents not from Makkah to avoid the city during the summit. “Giving the summit guests more room will contribute to the success of this event which aims to unite Muslims and resolve the crises that are happening in the Middle East.” Participation of non-Muslims Prince Khaled said non-Muslim leaders and delegations as well as the representatives of international organizations will be participating in the summit through video-conference from inside a conference hall in Jeddah. Speaking about the role of media, Prince Khaled urged broadcast and print media to educate the general public about the importance of the conference and the role that citizens and residents can play toward its success.
