Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz today received Chairman of the Shura Council Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Ibrahim Ibn Uthman Ibn Jubair, Deputy Chairman Dr. Abdallah Ibn Umar Ibn Muhammad Ibn Nasif, Secretary-General Dr. Hamoud Ibn Abdulaziz Al-Badr, and members of the newly formed Consultative Council (Majlis Al-Shura), who all swore an oath before him, to keep faith with their religion, their monarch, and their country, not to reveal any secret of the state, but to preserve its interests, and to perform all duties in a true, honest, sincere and just manner. The swearing-in was attended by Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, and by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector-General.   The occasion was also attended by Prince Fahd Ibn Muhammad Ibn Abdul Aziz, Prince Meteb Ibn Abdul Aziz (Minister of Public Works and Housing), Prince Badr Ibn Abdul Aziz (Deputy Commander of the National Guard), Prince Nawaf Ibn Abdul Aziz, Prince Nayef Ibn Abdul Aziz (Minister of the Interior), Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz (Governor of Riyadh Province), Prince Abdulilah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Prince Abdulmajeed Ibn Abdul Aziz (Governor of Madinah Province), other princes, ministers, senior officials, and members of the media.  King Fahd then proceeded to inaugurate the second term of the Council.

In his speech, Sheikh Ibn Jubair highlighted the significance of Shura (consultation) as mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, reviewed the Council's first four-year term which established the basis for its administrative and executive measures, and recalled King Fahd's address at the time of the inauguration of that first term.

King Fahd's speech on this occasion began by referring to the fact that the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is based on a definitive program that follows the Shariah (Law) of God and the message of his Faithful Prophet.  This Law states in its rules and aims the rights of God towards mankind and men's rights amongst themselves regarding what they need in their lives, prohibiting injustice and guaranteeing human rights.

King Fahd went on to speak of the development of the system of consultation, or Shura, together with the system of government, the cabinet system and the provincial system.   The recent increase in membership of the Shura Council to 90 reflects the success of the system.

In the area of development in general, he said, the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is continuing with its plans, concentrating on the qualification of the Saudi citizen in various scientific and vocational fields.  Education is a cornerstone of the country, and thousands of men and women graduate every year from Saudi schools, universities, colleges, and institutes.   Concerning industry, the private sector is growing at a steady pace, participating in the country's development.  In agriculture, Saudi Arabia now produces much of what it needs of grains, fruits, and vegetables, and as for water, there are many desalination plants.

King Fahd remarked that Saudi Arabia has always been distinguished in its foreign relations by maintaining ties of brotherhood and love, defending Islamic causes and in particular that of the Palestinian people and their right to their homeland and their capital, Jerusalem.  The Kingdom reaffirms its support of the peace process.

In concluding, King Fahd praised the work of those members who are leaving the Shura Council, wishing them success;  and commended the efforts of all the current members, praying to God for their successful service of religion and for the preservation of the Kingdom.

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