Saud Al Faisal was the world's longest serving foreign minister, his career spanning almost 40 years.
In the last few years, he maintained his challenging role despite suffering from chronic back pain and having various surgeries.
Al Jazeera's Stefanie Dekker takes a look at how Al Faisal advanced Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy.
[aljazeera.com]
29/4/15
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Saudi Arabia's king announces new heirs to throne...
ReplyDeleteSaudi Arabia's new king has announced a major cabinet reshuffle that puts in place a new generation to succeed him.
King Salman has appointed his nephew, the powerful Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, as crown prince.
The king's son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been made deputy crown prince and the foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, has been replaced.
King Salman, 78, acceded to the throne in January after the death of his half-brother Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.
Abdullah, who was thought to be aged about 90, had been on the throne since 2005 and Saudi Arabia's de facto leader for 10 years before that....bbc.com
29/4/15
Saudi King names nephew as new crown prince ...
ReplyDeleteSaudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud on Wednesday appointed his nephew, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, as the new crown prince.
A royal decree aired on state TV announced that Mohammed bin Nayef, who is also the kingdom’s interior minister, and is widely known internationally as Saudi Arabia’s counterterrorism czar, will replace (now former) Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz who had requested to step down.
“We have decided to respond to His Highness and what he had expressed about his desire to be relieved from the position of crown prince,” said a statement from the royal court, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency....alarabiya.net
29/4/15
Prince Saud al-Faisal, who retired in April after serving 40 years as Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, died on Thursday, two Saudi sources and media close to the ruling family said....
ReplyDeleteHis tenure saw Israel invade Lebanon in 1978, 1982 and 2006, the eruption of Palestinian intifadas in 1987 and 2000, Iraq's invasions of Iran in 1980 and Kuwait in 1990, and the occupation of Iraq by a U.S.-led coalition in 2003.
Equally at home in Arab robes or a tweed suit and tie, and as fluent in English as in Arabic, Prince Saud proved adept at cutting through diplomatic niceties to deliver Saudi Arabia's message with pith and wit.
During a moment of tension in Saudi ties with its main ally the United States in 2004, he described the relationship as "a Muslim marriage" in which the kingdom could retain different wives if it treated them all with fairness.
He retained that incisiveness even as a chronic back complaint and other maladies in recent years made his hands shaky and his speech slurred.
Asked in early 2012 if it would be a good idea to arm Syria's rebels, he said briskly: "I think it's an excellent idea.".......Reuters.......dailystar.com.lb
9/7/15