Sheikh Mohammed Ibrahim bin Jubair, Bakri bin Salih Shatta and Dr. Humoud bin Abdul Aziz Al Badr were today sworn in respectively as Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Secretary General of the Shoura Council before the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

Pronouncing the oath, they swore to remain sincere in their religion, and loyal to King and country, not to divulge any of the state's secrets, to maintain its interests and systems and perform their job with all integrity and justice.

The event took place at the Al Salam Palace in Jeddah where King Fahd announced the inauguration of the Council's third term.

Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, and Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, were present at the inauguration ceremony.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud gave the following speech at the inauguration of the third term of the Shoura Council.

“Thanks be to God who bestows upon us great blessings and peace be upon his Prophet Mohammed. In the name of God, we announce the start of the third term of the Shoura Council in its new formation. We open its works on this blessed day and pray to God to bless the efforts and make them beneficial to the nation.

”We are delighted to see the Council make such progress, inspired by its past successes and looking forward to the future in its plans and studies. It combines past and present without any contradiction, protected by affection, fraternity and faith. Dear brothers, it is my pleasure to meet you today, as it is customary every year. This inauguration the third session marks eight years of this practice in its present form. These years have emphasized the effectiveness of this method [of consultation] that our religion advocates for the development the life of society. This method ensures the aspirations of all for justice and prosperity.

”It is not in vain that the founder of this great country, the late King Abdul Aziz, chose the Islamic Shoura as a method to contribute to running the affairs of the country and its citizens at a time when various man-made formulas to organize relations in society were being suggested.

“The Late King Abdul Aziz's choice of Shoura is the choice of Islamic Shariah. It reflected his faith, his pride in serving the Holy Places and the land from which the Islamic message which respects the man who is entrusted with building and preserving the land was disseminated. The late King Abdul Aziz's principle in ruling was to ensure his people’s security and stability. He saw these as prerequisites for development, without which there is no bright future for coming generations. He took a remarkable stance in supporting efforts to achieve world peace everywhere.

“Our country has been faithful to the principles of King Abdul Aziz in both domestic and foreign affairs. Inspired by Islam, his sons have been faithful to his message, as well as to the enforcement of Shariah in their deeds and words.

”Dear brothers, the father of all, the late King Abdul Aziz, laid the foundations of this Council. We saw that there was a need for reviewing the system, its bills and measures to meet the present needs of our country and the requirements and necessities of our age. We issued a new system in 1412 AH for the Council to proceed in exercising its tasks and assume its responsibilities effectively.

”We have the right to be proud of all the achievements that enhance our adherence to Shoura practices and prompt us to provide more support to them.

”We are all one team with a common goal. Our decision to increase the number of Council members for this new term to 120, and in the previous session from 60 to 90 members, demonstrates the success of the Shoura practice and our desire to expand the base for participation.

”God Almighty helped us in selecting an elite band of men for three consecutive terms. These men are renowned for their dedication to their religion, their knowledge, their experience, their integrity and sincerity.

”I told your brothers, at the start of the first term eight years ago, that when I chose candidates for the membership of the Council I found myself confronted by long lists of eligible sons of this dear homeland – ample evidence that our country has many qualified men, well-equipped with knowledge and faith. By contributing to various development fields, they stressed their continual readiness for giving more to their country. On this occasion, I thank former members in the two previous terms.

“You are undoubtedly aware of the extent of my interest in the domestic issues of our country with regard to the life of everybody who lives in this country and realization of a bright future for the coming generations. I don't miss a single chance when I meet Government officials to emphasize the importance of utilizing the relevant Government organs to serve the citizens, facilitate their affairs, work for their comfort and meet their demands. Our religion instructs us to ensure justice among people.

“In this concern, one of our most important priorities is to provide more job opportunities to the youth of our country who have completed academic classes and are looking forward to building their careers. As we have already provided education for them, we work, with the help of God, to create jobs for them. While I praise what has been realized by the private sector in this field, I demand this sector provide more (job opportunities) as it is a national duty which should be realized to bring about prosperity to our country and citizens…

“We are all aware that it is the first duty of citizens to contribute to the building of the nation and maintaining its achievements. We know that the labour market requires academic qualification and applied training as two complementary factors. Since this is so, the education and training sectors have gained a considerable share of this year's budget, for instance.

”We have done this, so that our universities, colleges and technical training and vocational institutes will be able to accommodate greater numbers. This is in addition to the role that needs to be played by the private sector in the field of youth training in meeting actual needs. I am indeed proud, when talk turns to education, of the great strides that education has made in our country…

”On this occasion, let me remind you that the Seventh Development Plan also affirmed the importance of diversifying the national revenue sources and expansion of the productive base in all economic fields. The Government has adopted the method of privatisation of some sectors. One of the most important objectives of this method is to increase the vigour of the private sector and encourage it to take embark on new initiatives that will meet the requirements of the society.

”Privatisation expands the contribution of citizens in the productive sectors, encourages national and foreign capital for domestic investment, increases efficiency in the national economy, increases competitive capability and, above all, increases labour opportunities for Saudi youth

“It is obvious from everything we say that we pay close attention to the needs of young people in our country and pay attention to their future. We always pay special attention to the developments, programs and projects which are directly related to the life of citizens and help in their welfare and contribute in the improvement of their economic and social state of living.

This has been confirmed in all previous development plans. For instance, among other good news, the last development plan announced plans to open and operate 29 hospitals with a total capacity of 4,630 beds, open and operate 250 dispensaries and primary health centres, establish 17 health colleges, including nine for boys and eight for girls, open and operate 60 emergency centres, establish 1,111 elementary schools, 819 intermediate schools, 905 secondary schools, open 10 technological colleges, 17 multi-specialization secondary technical institutes, increase the capacity of technical education to reach 55,000 students by the end of the plan, graduate 50,000 students during the plan, enrol about 17,000 trainees at vocational training centres by the end of the plan and graduate about 46,000 trainees during the plan.

”The plan also augurs well in the fields of roads, telecommunications, municipality and rural affairs and other service organs

“Dear brothers, raising productive efficiency, improving better performance, reducing costs and rationalizing expenditure, boosting the economic activity and optimising the utilization of the countries sources will all help us to achieve the national goals set out in our development plans. As you all know our aim behind all this is to serve the citizens and country.

“Dear brothers, despite some adverse circumstances in the past years, our national economy in recovering. To this end, the efforts of the government and private sector should be combined. It is always a great delight to see the giant economic projects established by the private sector in the country. I praise the participation of Saudi businessmen who invest in their country as this results in strengthening the national economy.

“The recent announcement of the foreign investment system, setting up of the General Investment Authority, the Higher Tourism Authority, aim at pushing the wheel of development and broadening the base of national economy.

”The Saudi Electricity Company was established as a stock company with a capital of SR 33 billion to give a great boost to the private sector to play its role in the process of development.

”You have certainly all heard and read about the recent decisions of the Supreme Council for Petroleum and Minerals affairs regarding the preparatory agreements with a number of international oil companies which would undertake implementation of development of gas projects in the Kingdom. ”This step will yield direct economic benefits including the employment of some qualified Saudi workers.

“Dear brothers, there have been a number of rules and strategies studied by the Shoura Council and issued by the Cabinet during last year. They are, for instance, the national housing and urbanization strategy, real estate ownership system for non-Saudis, the system of social insurance, the system of publications, the system of handicapped welfare, the system of prisoners' welfare and the establishment of health insurance council.

“Regarding oil affairs, I recall that we have voiced support for the 'Caracas Declaration', issued by the second OPEC summit. We believe in the necessity of cooperation and consolidation among OPEC member states. As you know, oil is a strategic substance that constitutes a major source of energy and substantially contributes in the world economic development in various fields.

”Therefore, we should not forget to consolidate relations between OPEC and other oil producing countries on one hand and oil consuming countries on the other hand.

”This should take place within the frame of cooperation and understanding of common interests as the stability and equilibrium of the oil market is a common responsibility. Hence, OPEC should not be blamed for harming the world economy through oil price hikes. The Caracas Declaration has called on oil consuming countries to adopt a just stance towards international energy markets and urged them to reconsider their policies in order to reduce taxes for the benefit of consumers

“Based of the Kingdom's belief in the necessity of bridging the gap between the oil producing and oil consuming countries, the Kingdom proposed, during hosting the International Energy Forum a few months ago, the establishing of a standing General Secretariat of the Energy Forum and offered to host such a Secretariat in our country. This will contribute to opening more channels of contact among the various sides and help guarantee the stability of oil market.

”Regarding our role at Arab and Muslim levels, you all know the Kingdom's keenness on unifying the Arab ranks, enhancing Muslim solidarity and enlisting all Arab and Muslim potentials in various spheres to achieve stability and security and maintain prosperity and peace worldwide.

”Our support comes alongside the Arab League in achieving its goals. Dear brothers, in the Arab world, we extend a clear desire so that this part of the world lives in true peace. This goal is what we all seek to achieve, as a strategic choice. However, the whole world is witness to the practices of the Zionists against the Arabs of Palestine, their territories and their Holy Sites.

”The Zionists do not hesitate to commit all kinds of tyranny, killing and destruction especially during the last few days. The aggression has taken the form of a real war as the Zionists used all types of fatal weapons, including warplanes and rocket launchers at a time when the international powers are completely unable to confront and suppress their arrogance

“The Zionists have brought the region to a situation which augers ill in the near future and in the long run. We call upon the international community to put an end to these practices committed against the unarmed Palestinian people. And we call in particular on the U.S. to take a decisive stand that ends this situation, especially as the enemy ignores all conventions, charters and principles upon which human rights have been founded.

”Will the United Nations and the Security Council respond to the appeals of our Palestinian brothers and send an international force that will prevent the fall of more martyrs and injuries.

”Everybody knows our stance on the Palestinian issue and peace in the Middle East. We always say that the region will not enjoy security and stability unless Palestinians regain all their rights, establish their independent state with Al-Quds as its capital, and unless the Syrian Golan Heights are returned along with all occupied Arab lands.

”We will continue to provide all kinds of help to our Palestinian brothers. On this occasion, I’d like to recall that Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, as my deputy proposed at the Arab summit held in Cairo the setting up Al-Quds Intifada Fund, with an amount of $200 million, and also proposed the setting up of Al-Aqsa Fund, with an amount of $800 million to which the Kingdom would contribute 25 per cent to enable our Palestinian brothers to become economically independent. The summit adopted the Saudi proposal.

“What we are offering to the Palestinian brothers is our duty towards them. This is only one part of serving Muslims worldwide.

”One of our goals is to enhance the solidarity of Muslims and create conditions which will enable them to make greater achievements…The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ha an effective role in achieving these goals. Others envy the achievements so far fulfilled since the establishment of the GCC. Just recently, the Council added to its regular annual summit the GCC Consultative Summit to be held every six months or whenever deemed necessary.

“Dear brothers, in the context of creating more opportunities for understanding and cooperation with our neighbours, we were very delighted to have signed an international border agreement with Yemen, the agreement regarding the offshore area, parallel to the divided area between Kuwait and the Kingdom, and agreement with Qatar on the final maps on land and in the sea.

”Furthermore, signing of the security agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran has substantially helped in strengthening the relations between the two countries.

”All these achievements happened last year with our neighbours and this paved the way to the creation of a more positive atmosphere.

“We take this opportunity to thank the governors of the regions and praise what the Regions’ Councils offer in boosting the process of development in the country.

”In conclusion, we pray to Almighty God that you succeed in your new term, and we advise you to put keep your eyes on the concerns of your country. This is your responsibility.

We thank the Chairman of the Council and his Deputy as well as Secretary General and the Council's Agencies and Committees on the good work they have performed to ensure the success of this body, which is a source of pride to us.”