RIYADH – King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, appointed Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior, as Second Deputy Prime Minister on Friday.
The appointment was “made in the interest of the public good”, the Saudi Press Agency quoted a royal decree as saying.
Expressing pride in the confidence of King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan placed in him, Prince Naif told Okaz, “I wish to be thought of well by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques as I perform my duties to serve my religion and country.”
The appointment was made in line with Article 57 of the Basic System of Government.
Article 57 states:
(a) The King appoints and relieves deputies of the prime minister and ministers and members of the Council of Ministers by Royal decree.
(b) The deputies of the prime minister and ministers of the Council of Ministers are responsible, by expressing solidarity before the King, for implementing the Islamic Shari’ah and the state’s general policy.
(c) The King has the right to dissolve and reorganize the Council of Ministers.
Prince Naif was born in Riyadh in 1934.
His studies included religion, diplomacy and security affairs.
In 1953, Prince Naif became governor of Riyadh. Shortly after that was made deputy minister of the Interior.
He was minister of state for Internal Affairs in 1970 and, afterwards, president of the Supreme Council for Information.
He has been Minister of Interior since 1975.
Following are some of Prince Naif’s views expressed recently:

Constitution
“The Kingdom is distinguished for truly representing Islam as revealed in the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). The leadership and people of Saudi Arabia firmly believe that Islam is the true religion and the savior of mankind. The country has held onto that and has made Islam its Constitution.”

Recent Cabinet reshuffle
“This is what the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has decided and achieved. The reshuffle has come out of the King’s wish for the public interest. He has chosen citizens in these positions with hopes that they will achieve his desired goals.”
Terrorism
“The Kingdom has tactfully dealt with terrorism and dismantled its plans more successfully than anywhere else in the world. And many concerned authorities all over the world have recognized that.
Many world leaderships have made positive statements about the Kingdom’s ability to handle terrorism. Security authorities across the world know that the Kingdom is in the frontier of countries that strongly fight terror and cripple its plans.”

Guantanamo returnees
“We look at them as Saudi citizens who should come back home. We should stand by Saudi citizens abroad either when being at fault or misled to be under investigation. We should help them.”

Trial of terror suspects
“We have referred the suspects to court which has already begun…Whatever verdict the court hands down, the Interior Ministry will execute it.”

Youth and drugs
“The Kingdom has been a target for its financial resources. Those who are viciously targeting the Kingdom want to do harm to the Saudi citizens, especially the young generation... Money is their end goal.”