King receives condolences on Sattam’s death

King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, at the funeral prayers of Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Riyadh region, in the capital, Wednesday. — SPA

Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Wednesday received condolences on the demise of Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Riyadh region.

The condolences were received following Prince Sattam’s funeral prayers at Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Mosque here.

Besides King Abdullah, also joining the prayer, led by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Abdullah Aal Al-Sheikh, were Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense; Prince Muqrin Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier and adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; and other senior princes, officials and citizens.

Later in the evening Prince Sattam’s body arrived in Jeddah. He is to be buried in Al-Adel cemetery in Makkah as per his wishes.

Minister of Social Affairs Dr. Yusuf Al-Othaimeen said the Prince had many values such as goodness, virtue and kindness. “He will be remembered for his practical wisdom, love for charity work, devotion and unflinching support to the initiatives of the ministry in helping orphans, widows, people with special needs and other weaker sections of the society.

Meanwhile, Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, has extended condolences to the King on the death of Prince Sattam.

German Ambassador Dieter Walter Haller to the Kingdom also extended his condolences and sincere sympathy to King Abdullah and the people of the Kingdom.

“With deep sorrow I was informed of the death of Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz, who, for decades, had devoted himself to serve the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The German people have lost a dear friend and a true partner,” he said.

Jiro Kodera, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan, said: “Prince Sattam, with his wise guidance and dedication to fulfilling his responsibility, made great contributions to the development of Riyadh, one of the most important capitals in the Middle East.”

“He had cordial relationship with the members of the royal family of Japan and was very keen to foster close friendship between the two countries,” the envoy said.

Pakistani Ambassador Mohammed Naeem Khan said Prince Sattam’s efforts in strengthening relations between information ministries of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan would long be remembered.