Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who arrived in Vienna yesterday on a State visit, was honored at a dinner reception last night by President of the Republic of Austria Thomas Klestil. In his address on the occasion, Crown Prince Abdullah spoke of Austria’s significant historical role, and of its modernism. He went on to reiterate the fact that Islam is a religion of peace, love and tolerance, and that terrorists who perpetrate criminal acts have nothing to do with Islam. Commenting that Muslim states have, as much as other countries, suffered greatly from the evils of terrorism, he nevertheless expressed confidence that the forces of moderation and tolerance will prevail in defeating the forces of hatred and fanaticism.

Yesterday, in the presence of the Crown Prince, the Austrian President and Austria’s Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Al-Faisal and Austria's Minister of Economic Affairs and Labor Martin Bartenstein signed a cooperation agreement in the areas of the economy, commerce, industry and technology. Crown Prince Abdullah and President Klestil then held talks to discuss international developments.

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