3 July 2005, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo today called on His Royal Highness Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud at the Royal Court and conveyed a letter from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and discussed a number of matters of importance to both countries.

“It was an honor to meet and dialogue with the Crown Prince and to convey the letter of President Arroyo.  His Royal Highness in turn asked me to bring to the President his warmest greetings and best wishes and said that he looked forward to continue working with President Arroyo for many more years in further strengthening relations between our two countries and in addressing global issues of mutual concern to both countries,” the Secretary said after his meeting with the Crown Prince.

The Secretary added that the global issues of mutual concern that he discussed with the Crown Prince were the fight against terrorism and the importance of addressing the rising price of oil, particularly its impact on developing countries like the Philippines.

The Secretary also conveyed the President’s best wishes and hopes for the continued good health of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Royal Highness King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

“I thanked His Royal Highness for the protection and opportunities given to Filipinos in the Kingdom and he in turn was very grateful for the contributions made by Filipinos to the growth and development of the Kingdom and pledged to always care for and provide protection for them,” the Secretary revealed.

The Secretary said that he was deeply touched by the sincere concern that was shown by the Crown Prince for Filipinos in the Kingdom.

The Secretary also thanked the Crown Prince for his role in the release of Angelo Dela Cruz and Robert Tarongoy, for his sponsorship of the operation of the Filipino Siamese twins and for his donations to disaster victims in the Philippines.

“I conveyed our deep appreciate for the role His Royal Highness has been playing in our own search for peace in the Southern Philippines.  Because his personal and intense commitment to the cause of peace in the Southern Philippines, many lives have been saved and people now live in peace and harmony.  I also expressed our appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s support for our bid for Observer status in the OIC,” the Secretary said.

The Secretary also told the Crown Prince that Saudi Arabia’s actions in the cause of peace and in preventing the spread of terrorism had encouraged the Philippines to promote greater peace, understanding and tolerance through broader interfaith dialogue.

“I thanked His Royal Highness for the Kingdom’s support for our interfaith initiatives, particularly in the United Nations.  I proposed that our two countries intensify cooperation in the fight against terrorism and I expressed our support the establishment of the International Counter-Terrorism Center in the Kingdom,” the Secretary added.

Accompanying the Secretary to the meeting were Undersecretary for Special Concerns Rafael Seguis, Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Jose Brillantes and Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Bahnarim Guinomla. END
 
 

/jay