Riyadh, March 17. (BNA) His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa today arrived in Riyadh in compliance with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdulla bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's invitation to HM to attend the inaugural ceremony of the National Heritage and Culture Festival organised annually by the Saudi National Guard at Al Janadriya region in order to revive the Arab Saudi heritage.
Prince of Riyadh Province Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz was at the front of those who received HM King Hamad at King Khalid International Airport. Other senior officials and the two countries' Ambassador were also there. After a short pause, HM King Hamad's convoy headed for Al Janadriya. On this occasion, HM King Hamad delivered a statement in which he expressed his happiness over attending Al Janadriya Festival at the brotherly invitation of King Abdulla in line with his annual habit to bring together all brothers and reunite them to attend this blessed event. "Al Janadriya Festival is no longer a Saudi-restricted event , but has gained GCC, Arab and international dimensions year after year as it is patronised by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdulla bin Abdulaziz and attended by major Saudi scholars, intellectuals and artists," HM King Hamad said. Quoting King Abdulla's when he said that "desert is a place where values of purity, self-esteem, bravery, magnanimity and closeness to God prevail," HM King Hamad asserted that Al Janadriya Festival's various functions are true embodiment of those noble values. In Bahrain, we have always been interested in Al Janadriya Festival's development and the issues it focused on such as the necessity for dialogue, moderation and openness to all what is beneficial, HM added. "We meet here again to further strengthen and consolidate our common brotherhood values for the sake of our brotherly peoples, Islamic Nation and the international community," HM also said. HM King Hamad also expressed his appreciation of Saudi Arabia's landmark achievements under the wise leadership of King Abdulla and the tremendous efforts he exerts in order to achieve peace and promote stability and prosperity in the region. W H Q BNA 1600 GMT 2010/03/17