19 May 2008
Riyadh: The Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia is witnessing three major events within a few days. All preparations are in place for the 10th Consultative Summit of GCC leaders, oil giant Saudi Aramco's 75th anniversary celebrations and a whirlwind week-long tour by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz.
The GCC Consultative Summit, scheduled to be held in Dammam on Monday, is significant in the wake of the latest developments in the region, especially in Lebanon.
King Abdullah will arrive in Dammam well before the summit to accord a warm reception to the GCC leaders in the Eastern Province, which is hosting the summit for the first time.
The Consultative Summit, ahead of the regular annual summit in Muscat next December, will strive to iron out a unified GCC position on major issues and the latest developments in the Arab region, especially in Lebanon, Sudan, Yemen, Iraq and Palestine.
GCC Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah said in a press statement that he had briefed King Abdullah on the preparations being made by the GCC General Secretariat with regard to major topics to be included on the Summit's agenda.
The region's governor Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd has held several meetings with senior officials, prominent businessmen and key figures and chaired meetings of organising committees.
The governor has also supervised beautification projects prior to the summit. Dammam Mayor Daifullah Al Otaibi inspected the finished work of roads, entry points, pavements, lighting and the plantation of trees on major highways leading to the summit venue.
Major roads and streets in the main cities of the region, Dammam, Al Khobar and Dhahran are wearing a festive look. Posters bearing pictures of GCC leaders, and fluttering flags of GCC states can be seen everywhere.
Celebrations
The GCC leaders will also take part in the 75th anniversary of Saudi Aramco tomorrow. The kingdom's oil giant will hold a series of celebrations to generate enthusiasm among its employees and friends worldwide. Activities will kick off tomorrow evening and will be followed by celebrations at Saudi Aramco's 11 facilities in various regions of the kingdom the following day.
The theme of the celebrations will be Energy for Generations and will focus on the human side of the company as well as its commitment to the kingdom and global prosperity.
"We view this as an opportunity to connect the company's remarkable past with the exciting promise of the future," Abdullah S. Jum'ah, the company's president and CEO, told journalists.
"It will also allow us to send a big 'thank you' to our current and retired employees, to the people of the kingdom and to all those with whom we partner," he added.
By Mariam Al Hakeem
Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.
