Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Shiekh, Speaker of Majlis Ash-shura of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia met here yesterday with Sirdar Iyaz Sadeq, the Speaker of Pakistan's national assembly (parliament) in the attendance of Abdullah bin Marzouq Al-Zahrani, the Saudi ambassador to Pakistan. During the meeting, bilateral relations between the Kingdom and Pakistan, the overall issues of mutual concern to the two countries' chambers, in addition to ways of enhancing parliamentary cooperation between them were discussed. At the outset of the meeting, the speaker of the Pakistani parliament welcomed Al Al-Shiekh and the accompanying delegation, confirming the firmness of relations binding the two countries in all fields, particularly those between the Shura council and national assembly. He underscored the importance of enhancing bilateral relations at the political, economic, commercial and cultural level and their keenness to develop them to best serve the common interests of the two countries and peoples, in general, and the parliamentary relations in particular. He stated that Pakistan's government and people stand steadfast by the side of the Kingdom in all circumstances as the security and sovereignty of the Kingdom is integral to that of Pakistan. He considered the participation of Pakistan in the 40-nation Islamic Alliance Against Terror at the invitation of the Kingdom, citing its participation in the North Thunder exercise and the attendance of its prime minister and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, as a reflection of Islamabad's staunch position in support for the Kingdom in its fight against terrorism. For his part, Al Al-Sheikh confirmed the keenness of Majlis Ash-shura on strengthening and developing the distinguished ties between the two countries through expanding mutual parliamentary visits and activating the role of the two friendship committees in the two chambers in what serves the two countries and peoples. He gave an account on the Shura council, its mechanisms, sub-committees, membership in international and regional parliamentary unions and role in discussing and forwarding the nation's vital issues inside the country. He suggested that parliamentary relations between the two chambers deserve to transfer to an advanced phase of rapprochement and cooperation that would better reflect the excellence of relations between the two sides, noting that the Shura Council is ready to usher into new contact channels and expand mutual visits to reach that end which achieves the aspirations of the leaderships and peoples of the two countries. Dr. Al Al-Sheikh shed light on a number of political positions of the Kingdom of common interest to the two countries in general and the Shura Council of Saudi Arabia and the National Assembly of Pakistan in particular, noting that the Shura Council is much interested in getting the Pakistani parliament informed about the Kingdom's positions towards all regional and Islamic issues. He explained that, in this regard, the Kingdom, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has taken an historic position towards Yemen in response to its legitimate government, launching the Determination Storm and then the Restoration of Hope which both received international support and Arab and International participation to dismantle the Houthi militias and the followers of deposed president Ali Abdullah Saleh from the legitimate governmental institutions and cease their usurpation of Yemen peoples' capabilities which they committed to the benefit of regional considerations which go contrary to the mere stability and development of Yemen. Al Al-Sheikh once more explained that the Kingdom has gained a number of positive results from this historic decision which restored the legitimacy from its extorters and handed it over to the legitimate representative of the Yemeni people, noting that the position of the national assembly of Pakistan towards this issue is one of the reasons for this successful visit as many questions were being answered through "my" explanation of the Saudi position to the members of the Pakistani parliament in addition to so many other results which are expected to bring about benefits for the two sides. In conclusion, Al Al-Sheikh thanked the speaker of the Pakistani parliament for warm welcome and generous hospitality, hoping to see more bilateral visits and meetings yielding positive outcomes in support for bilateral relations and contributing to more rapprochement and cooperation between the two countries. The meeting was attended on the Saudi side by Al-Ashiekh's official delegation comprising Dr. Saad bin Mohammed Al-Hareeqi; Dr. Abdullah bin Homood Al-Harbi and Dr. Faleh bin Mohammed Al-Sagheer as well as a number of parliamentarians on the Pakistani side. On the other hand, and as part of the several-day official visit of the Shura Council delegation, the Saudi Pakistani parliamentary friendship committee held a meeting under the parliament dome and discussed a number of issues of mutual concern.
