Eiban, President of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), has said King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is characterized by his clear ideas and wisdom regarding local, regional and international concerns. King Abdullah is known for his frankness and keenness for enhancing Arab relations, Dr. Al-Eiban said in an article on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of King Abdullah's accession to the throne. King Abdullah has pledged to follow the footsteps of his great father and his brothers and to hold high the Holy Qur'an as the country's constitution, he said, adding that King Abdullah is a man of extraordinary character who has had a positive impact beyond the borders of the Kingdom, placing him among the most influential personalities in the world. Dr. Al-Eiban noted that the speech delivered by the King at the Kuwait Arab summit has played a positive role as regards unifying the Arab ranks. In the international arena, King Abdullah has been working to enhance the pillars of global stability and his initiatives have been aimed at realizing coexistence, he said, adding that the King has called for dialogue among followers of religions and cultures and for the establishment of relations on the basis of mutual respect and recognition of cultural diversity. The King patronized the international Islamic conference for dialogue in Makkah which called for the establishment of a center for spreading the culture of dialogue and development of skills. The writer lauded the role of King Abdullah as regards organizing the Madrid conference for dialogue among followers of religions and cultures as well as the international summit for dialogue among followers of religions held in New York with the participation of a large number of leaders from around the world. Dr. Al-Eiban highlighted the King's role as regards extending assistance to Arabs and Muslims and needy people in all parts of the world. At the domestic level, the writer shed light on the King's keenness to become acquainted with the affairs of the people and said his continuous visits to the various regions of the Kingdom stand as a testimony to his desire to extend all possible services to citizens. Dr. Al-Eiban also lauded security personnel for enhancing the pillars of security and stability in the country. He noted the great attention given by the Monarch to displaced people in the Jizan region following military operations against infiltrators in that part of the country, as well as his sympathy for victims of floods in Jeddah and his order to form an investigation committee to study all aspects of the flood disaster. Dr. Al-Eiban said that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques is keen to see the participation of women in the political and economic process as well as in social development noting that he has appointed a woman as rector of Princess Noura Bint Abdul-Rahman University. During the era of King Abdullah, large sums have been allocated for the sector of education, he said. The number of government universities has increased to 25 in addition to which many colleges and non-governmental universities have been established. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) stands as a witness to the great strides made in the educational sector in the Kingdom, Dr. Al
