On behalf of Prince Bandar Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Saudi Ambassador to the United

States, Ambassador Ahmed Abdulaziz Kattan yesterday received the guests at the reception

held at the Embassy in Washington DC on the occasion of the Kingdom's National Day. The

guests included a number of Arab, Islamic and other ambassadors accredited to the United

States, and senior officials of the U.S. administration.

Reviewing the recently-formulated regulations concerning services during umrah (the minor

pilgrimage) and visitors to the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, the cabinet emphasized that

the aim of these regulations is to facilitate procedures and ensure comfort and ease for

the pilgrims, and urged the authorities concerned to put them into effect as soon as

possible.
Turning to international events, Crown Prince Abdullah congratulated President Hosni

Mubarak of the Arab Republic of Egypt on the renewal of his term of office, and referred to

the results of the referendum held yesterday as a reflection of the confidence of the

Egyptian people. Crown Prince Abdullah also congratulated President Ali Abdullah Saleh on

his victory in Yemen's first direct presidential elections, and wished the government and

people of Yemen every prosperity.
The cabinet then authorized the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority to sign an air

services agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Cyprus prior to

the final endorsement; and delegated the Minister of Foreign Affairs or his representative

to sign a memorandum of understanding between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United

States of America to regulate visitors visas between the two countries. The cabinet also

decided that the Kingdom should become a member of the International Center for

Rehabilitation and Maintenance of Cultural Heritage, an affiliate of UNESCO.

Return