(WASHINGTON, DC) - On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, delivered a speech today inaugurating the third year of the sixth session of the Consultative Council [Majlis Al-Shura]. King Abdullah confirmed that the Kingdom will not allow any threat to national security, and urged others to promote the cultural and moral values upon which Saudi Arabia and the Islamic and Arab identity was founded.

“On this occasion, and from this platform, we assure everyone that we will not allow any threat to the national unity,” said King Abdullah. “Let those who have pledged themselves to external organizations or states know that they have no place among us and that they will be confronted firmly and strongly. We also reaffirm our resolve to continue the intellectual and security work to counter terrorism. We will not rest until we fortify our dear country from this danger.”

King Abdullah spoke on domestic and international efforts to combat terrorism. He stated, “We confronted it through several levels, including the approval of the terrorism crimes and finance regulation, as well as the efforts by scholars, preachers and intellectuals to clarify the deviation of this thought and its danger to faith and security. Senior scholars have issued numerous statements on the danger of terrorism. In addition, the Kingdom continues security work to counter it through proactive security moves to thwart the terrorists' plans, arrest them and bring them to justice.”

“On the external front, your state has taken the lead in warning against terrorism through our call for the establishment of the International Centre for Fighting Terrorism, as well as the call to confront terrorism at the international level,” stated King Abdullah. “The Kingdom provided this center with a donation of $100 million to urgently activate the role of this center.”

King Abdullah also highlighted ongoing achievements and other priorities of Saudi Arabia in the upcoming year. Plans to improve conditions in the Kingdom; including the standard of living, services and facilities, sustainable development, partnerships with private sector, national workforce development and more, were addressed.