RIYADH — A special program in Arabic language must be part of the curriculum of international schools in the Kingdom, according to a provision of the draft law to protect Arabic language in the Kingdom. The council session also approved some changes and additions made in the traffic law. The Shoura Council started on Tuesday deliberations on the draft law after presentation of a report on the law prepared by a special committee constituted for the purpose. Fahaad Al-Hamad, assistant president of the council, said that the committee recommended approval of the law, which is designed to be implemented with the financial and administrative support of King Abdullah International Center for the Service of Arabic Language. The law aims at protecting the language as the core element in preserving the Kingdom's national identity. The law seeks all governmental and non-governmental agencies to use Arabic in all their names and activities. There is another provision in the law under which all the Saudi-related talks in the international forums and formal meetings within the Kingdom and outside must be in Arabic. Taking part in deliberations, some members drew attention to the fact that the report lacks any mention of penal actions against violations or about the authority to monitor implementation of the law. The council gave the committee some more time to study the observations raised by the members.
