Former Saudi FM Prince Saud Dies

SUBSCRIPTION SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015 RAMADAN 24, 1436 AH No: 16578 Omar Sharif, Mighty Mexico ‘Lawrence of rout depleted Emsak: 03:13 Fajer: 03:23 Arabia’ star, dies Cuba 6-0 Dohr: 11:53 Asr: 15:28 Maghreb: 18:50 24 48 Eshaa: 20:21 Former Saudi FM Min 32º 150 Fils Prince Saud dies Max 47º Amir offers condolences • Tributes pour in for long-serving ex-FM RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the secretary general of the Organization of who was the world’s longest-serving foreign Islamic Cooperation, the world’s largest body of minister with 40 years in the post until his retire- Muslim nations, said the prince fought major ment this year, has died, the ministry political battles in his career for the sake of his spokesman said Thursday. He was 75. The tall, country and for the Muslim world. stately Prince Saud was a fixture of Mideast He led Saudi diplomacy over a period that diplomacy, representing the oil-rich Gulf pow- saw the kingdom - once better known for erhouse as it wielded its influence in crisis after behind-the-scenes influence - become more crisis shaking the region - from Lebanon’s civil overt in throwing its weight in affairs across the war in the 1970s and 1980s, through multiple Mideast. Tending to the alliance with the rounds of Arab-Israeli peace efforts, the 1990 United States was a major part of that. Iraqi invasion of neighboring Kuwait and the Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait brought US troops subsequent Gulf War, Al-Qaeda’s Sept 11, 2001, to Saudi Arabia, a deployment that raised some attacks in the United States, the 2003 US-led opposition among Saudis. Al-Faisal played a invasion of Iraq to the current day’s tensions key role in patching ties with the United States between the Arab Gulf bloc and Iran, Arab which were strained by the Sept 11, 2001 Spring uprisings, Syria’s civil war and the spread attacks, in which 15 of the 19 hijackers were of Islamic State group extremists. Saudi nationals. The country’s government-owned media He insisted in public speeches that Islam and announced Saud’s death after midnight yester- Muslims are not the enemy, saying in 2004 in an day. The official announcement, carried by state address at the European Policy Center in television, did not state the cause of death. The Brussels: “You just cannot dismiss a 1,400-year- prince had undergone multiple surgeries in old culture and civilization by stigmatizing it as recent years for his back, which left him walking merely a hatchery for terrorism.” After the 2003 with a cane, and for other ailments. Word of his US-led invasion of Iraq ousted Saddam, Saudi passing first emerged late Thursday when Saudi Arabia often bristled over the consequences - Foreign Ministry spokesman, Osama Nugali, the rise of Shiite power in Baghdad and the wrote on his official Twitter feed, “The eye tears, growing influence there of Shiite-led Iran, the the heart saddens. We all are saddened to be kingdom’s top rival. Saud “had to explain to the separated from you.” world how they hated Saddam Hussein, but The prince, who took the ministry post in objected handing over Iraq to Iran,” Fandy said. 1975, retired on April 29, citing health reasons. Al-Faisal was not seen as a hawk toward Iran, At the time, US Secretary of State John Kerry but was part of the leadership that saw the hailed him, saying he “has not just been the Shiite powerhouse across the Gulf waters as the planet’s longest-serving Foreign Minister but main challenge to Sunni-led Saudi Arabia. Last also among the wisest.” He was succeeded in year, he invited Iranian Foreign Minister the post by Adel Al-Jubeir, who before that was Mohammad Javad Zarif to visit Saudi Arabia, but Saudi Arabia’s ambassador in Washington. Kerry later accused Iran of fomenting unrest through- expressed his condolences to Saud’s family and out the Middle East. Zarif ended up visiting friends, King Salman and to the people of Saudi shortly after King Abdullah’s death in late Arabia, saying the prince was “a man of vast January and expressed hopes of greater co- experience, personal warmth, great dignity, and operation with the Sunni-ruled kingdom. keen insights who served his country loyally and Among the stories shared about the prince RIYADH: File picture shows Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal gesturing during well.” “I personally admired him greatly, valued by Western diplomats in Riyadh is that at one a joint press conference with his French counterpart. — AFP (See Page 2) his friendship, and appreciated his wise coun- point, he had approached King Abdullah to ask sel,” Kerry added. “His legacy as a statesman and The young prince, fluent in English and another brother, Prince Turki Al-Faisal, heading to retire as foreign minister, saying he was tired diplomat will not be forgotten.” French, brought an air of sophistication and a research center and think tank after decades and needed to rest. The monarch declined his President Barack Obama said in a statement charisma, whether in crisp suits or in the tradi- as the head of intelligence. request, telling him, “So I should be the only one that generations of US leaders and diplomats tional Saudi white robe and gold-trimmed black Mamoun Fandy, author of Saudi Arabia and to die in office?” In one of his last public appear- benefited from Saud’s “thoughtful perspective, cloak with a red-checkered head piece. Soft spo- the Politics of Dissent, said his death marks the ances as foreign minister in March, he helped charisma and poise, and diplomatic skill.” Saud ken, he often showed a sense of humor not end of an era as the elder royals move to shift rally efforts for Saudi Arabia to lead a coalition of was the son of Saudi Arabia’s third king, Faisal, often seen among the publicly stolid royal fami- power to younger princes. “The history of Saudi Arab countries to bomb Yemen’s Shiite rebels who ruled from 1964 until he was assassinated ly. He was father to six children, three boys and foreign policy is Al-Faisal, both him and his who had taken over the capital there. “We are in 1975. Prince Saud, who had a bachelor’s three girls. King Salman’s son, Prince Sultan, is father,” he said. “It’s how the world knew Saudi not warmongers, but if the drums of war call for degree in economics from Princeton University married to one of Prince Saud’s daughters. The Arabia, through Al-Faisal.” Arab League it, we are prepared,” Saud said in a speech to the and had been deputy petroleum minister, was late prince’s brothers are also known as highly Secretary General Nabil Al-Arabi said the world kingdom’s consultative Shura Council, arguing soon after appointed to the foreign minister educated and eloquent, with Prince Khaled Al- lost a “noble” diplomat who defended his that Yemen was integral to overall Gulf security post, which his father had held during his reign. Faisal serving as the governor of Makkah and nation with “courage and valor.” Iyad Madani, and that Iran was behind the rebels. — AP LOCAL SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015 His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah Amir, state officials pay tribute to former Saudi FM ‘Architect of the Saudi foreign strategy’ KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- since 1975. “He was one of the most prominent stallions of Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable of condolences late on Thursday Arab and Islamic diplomacy,” he said. to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Prince Saud Al-Faisal had served in the foreign affairs min- Foreign Ministry’s Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia over the passing of former foreign istry at times the region was witnessing hard conditions relat- minister Saud Bin Faisal Al-Saud. ed to the cold war, the Palestinian issue, the Iraq-Iranian war, In the cable, His Highness the Amir said that the Kingdom the Iraqi aggression on Kuwait and the war on terrorism, he has lost one of its devoted statesmen, who had a life filled stated. The deceased had played a major role in preparing for with achievements, during which he excelled in fulfilling his liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi occupation in 1991, he duties as top diplomat and best represent his country’s for- added. eign policy. His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Great loss Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar Top Kuwaiti lawmakers mourned meanwhile the death of cables. former Prince Saud Al-Faisal. In separate press releases, Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanem and Pillar deputy parliament speaker Mubarak Al-Khurainej offered their Meanwhile, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of condolences to the Saudi government and people, affirming Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah that the passing of Prince Saud Al-Faisal was a great loss for expressed deepest condolences over the passing of the for- the Arab and Muslim worlds. Information Minister Sheikh Salman Al-Homoud Al-Sabah mer Saudi foreign minister. “We reminisce; with pride, honor- Both officials reflected the Kuwaiti people’s gratitude able and courageous stances of the deceased during the Iraqi towards the late Saudi official’s actions and efforts during the invasion to Kuwait in 1990-1991,” Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled told invasion and subsequent liberation of Kuwait, affirming that KUNA.

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