The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was awarded Honorary Doctorate in the field of Medical Science and Education by the Bahrain-based Arab Gulf University (AGU). The event took place during an audience held by the monarch for the university's Council of Trustees delegation, led by Dr. Ali Abdul-Khaleq Al-Qarni, Director of the Arab Educational Bureau and member of the council; Dr. Mohammed Sulaiman Al-Bandari, President of the University's Council of Trustees; and Dr. Khalid bin Abdulrahman Al-Ohali, President of AGU. Addressing the gathering, Al-Ohali announced that the University's senate has nominated the monarch to win the honorary degree, a proposal endorsed by its Council of Trustees, in recognition of his domestic, regional and international achievements in the educational, cultural, scientific, economic and political fields. He cited King Abdullah's winning the titles of the Islamic world's most popular leader, one of the world's top ten influential leaders and Champion of the world's campaign for combating hunger 2008. In support for the Palestinian issue, the Monarch has proposed the Arab-adopted Peace Initiative in Beirut 2002, the establishment of Al-Quds Uprising Fund; and Al-Aqsa Mosque Fund, Al-Ohali said. At the international arena, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques made several initiatives, including the dialogue among followers of different religions, civilizations and cultures, the establishment of an international center for combating terrorism and the set up of a secretariat general for the International Energy Forum. At the GCC level, Al-Ohali highlighted the King's support for the concerted effort for more rapprochement among the group, the latest of which were the set up of the GCC Monetary Union, the Power Grid and Railway network. --More
