Abdullah receives U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell
Saudi Arabia is kernel of evil, says US Brief
May 13, 2003
ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ
May 13, 2003In the name of God, most compassionate, most merciful
My fellow citizens:
May God’s peace and blessing be upon you.
The tragic, bloody and painful events that took place in the heart of our dear capital, Riyadh, last night, in which innocent citizens and residents were killed or injured, prove once again that terrorists are criminals and murderers with total disregard for any Islamic and human values or decency. They are no different from vicious animals whose only concern is to shed blood and bring terror to those innocents under God’s protection.
These tragic events should serve as a warning to the unwary, and should restore sanity to the deluded. The perpetrators are but a small group of deviants whose objective is to do harm to our society by doing damage to its security.
On the other hand, the whole Saudi nation, old and young, men and women, stand shoulder-to-shoulder in condemning this heinous act and expressing their rejection of those who perpetrated it. We will be steadfast in defending our homeland, the cradle of Islam, and the heart of the Arab world.
If these murderers believe that their criminal and bloody act will shake our nation or its unity, they are mistaken. And if they believe they can disrupt the security and tranquility of our nation, they are dreaming. This is because the Saudi people, who have embraced the Holy Book as their guide and the Shari’a as their way of life, and who have rallied behind their leaders, who in turn embraced them, will not permit a deviant few to shed the blood of the innocent which God Almighty, in His infinite wisdom and justice, has sanctified. The entire Saudi nation, and not just its valiant security forces, will not hesitate to confront the murderous criminals.
There can be no acceptance or justification for terrorism. Nor is there a place for any ideology which promotes it, or beliefs which condone it. We specifically warn anyone who tries to justify these crimes in the name of religion. And we say that anyone who tries to do so will be considered a full partner to the terrorists and will share their fate. As revealed in the Holy Qur'an: “If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (forever): and the wrath and the curse of God are upon him, and a dreadful penalty is prepared for him."
Further, as revealed in the Holy Qur'an, the taking of an innocent life is a crime against all of humanity. In the words of the Prophet (God’s peace and mercy be upon him): “He who kills a resident living in peace among you, will never breathe the air of heaven.” These messages, which do not require any interpretation, provide clear evidence that the fate of those murderers is damnation on earth and the fury of Hell in the thereafter.
I vow to my fellow citizens and to the friends who reside among us, that the State will be vigilant about their security and well-being. Our nation is capable, by the Grace of God Almighty and the unity of its citizens, to confront and destroy the threat posed by a deviant few and those who endorse or support them. With the help of God Almighty, we shall prevail. -keralamonitor.com
Abdullah receives U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell
Riyadh, 13th May 2003 Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, today received U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and his accompanying delegation.
The two sides discussed recent developments in the region, including the situation in Iraq and the need to maintain its security, territorial integrity and sovereignty, the Palestinian cause, the ?Road Map? for peace in the region, and aspects of relations between the two countries.
The audience was attended by Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, other princes and officials, and U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom Robert Jordan.
