The Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud patronized here yesterday the opening of the 30th National Festival for Heritage and Culture, organized by the Ministry of National Guard. Upon arrival at the venue in Al-Janadriyah village on the outskirts of capital Riyadh, the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques was received by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah Region; Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Minister of National Guard, who is also Chairman of the festival's Higher Steering Committee; Prince Major General Turki bin Abdullah bin Mohammed, Commander of Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Automatic Brigade; Prince Khalid bin Ayyaf Al Miqren, Undersecretary of the National Guard Ministry for Group Guiding Affairs; Prince Abdullah bin Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz; Prince Saad bin Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz; and Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri, Deputy Minister of National Guard, who is also Deputy Chairman of the festival's Higher Steering Committee. Then, the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques received King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain; Sheikh Jassem bin Hamad Al Thani, personal representative of the Emir of Qatar; Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior of the United Arab Emirates; Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youths Affairs of the State of Kuwait; and Saad bin Mohammed Al-Saadi, Minister of Sports Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman. Having seated at the main platform, the King and his guests listened and honored the national anthem of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia followed by blessed verses from the holy Quran. Addressing the gathering, host Minister and Chairman of the event's Higher Steering Committee Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz welcomed the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and paid tribute to late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud who initiated the idea of the festival 32 years ago. He conveyed the pride of the National Guard ministry personnel who as pleased to yearly produce a new copy of this innovative cultural event and the ministry's servicemen who are defending the country at the southern border together with their country mates of the armed forces. He also thanked the official guests for coming and participants for enriching the 30th festival. He expressed pleasure of choosing Germany as the guest of honor of the festival and welcomed the German delegation, led by Foreign Minister of Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, saying that Germany's participation gives an important flavor and significance to this year's celebration. He also paid tribute to the festival's cultural personality Dr. Abuabdulrahman bin Aqeel Al-Dhahiri who was awarded King Abdulaziz medal class I in recognition of his contribution to the literal and innovative activities in the Kingdom. In conclusion, he pledged that he is leading the national guard to protect the country's Arab and Islamic identity, legacy, culture and genuineness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the monarch's prudent instructions and care, wishing the king long life and the country steady progress and prosperity. Addressing the gathering, the foreign minister of the guest of honor said Germany was profoundly honored to accept the invitation to become this year's guest of honor, vowing that the German pavilion was designed to reflect the traditions, values, culture, life-style and innovations of the German people as gifts to a wide spectrum of the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He said he was pleased to accompany a delegation of several sectors of Germany representing politics, arts, culture and others, wishing that the German participation in the festival would achieve the projected goal. Deputized by the festival's guests, Dr. Mohammed bin Isa, Chairman of Al-Aseela festival, expressed admiration of the pioneering cultural role of the festival in consolidating the cultural communication among peoples of the world. He paid tribute to late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founder of Janadriyah cultural festival, and his role in enhancing cultural and heritage values that play linking the generations with their history. He added that King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is completing the message and showing that despite other engagements, he is dedicated to push forward this cultural march aiming to the prevalence of the values of moderation and tolerance. Then the audience attended the grand camel race, an annual event coinciding with the cultural festival. Following the race, the monarch gave away the prizes to the winners of the first place of each of the five sets. The winners of the first and second sets also received prizes from the President of the UAE delivered to them by Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Then, the King, the King of Bahrain, the guests of the Kingdom and the invitees performed Maghreb (sunset) prayer. The King and the King of Bahrain graced a dinner party held to mark the occasion. The opening ceremony and the dinner were attended by Prince Khalid bin Fahd bin Khalid; Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region; Prince Mohammed bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Jazan Region; Prince Sultan bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Kabeer; Prince Saud bin Saad bin Abdulaziz; Prince Faisal bin Abdullah bin Mohammed; Prince Miteb bin Thunayan bin Mohammed; Prince Talal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Turki; Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; Prince Mansour bin Miteb bin Abdulaziz, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet and Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thunayan, President of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu; Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mohammed bin Saud; Prince Sattam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Mashari bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Al-Baha Region; Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, President of the General Commission for Tourism and National Heritage; Prince Faisal bin Saud bin Mohammed; Prince Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed, President of King Abdulaziz University for Science and Technology; Prince Juluwe bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, Governor of Najran Region; Prince Yousef bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Dr. Husam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Dr. Faisal Mishaal bin Saud, Governor of Qassim Region; Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Mohammed, President of the Wild Life Commission; Prince Saad bin Abdullah bin Musaed; Prince Abdullah bin Musaed bin Abdulaziz, General President of Youth Welfare; Prince Khalid bin Fahd bin Nasser; Prince Mansour bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz; Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah Region; Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz; Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Sultan, Consultant at the Royal Court; Prince Mansour bin Miqren bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz; Prince Ahmed bin Fahd bin Salman bin Abdulaziz; other princes, ministers and senior officials from inside and outside of the Kingdom as well as the guests of the festival.
