THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES KING ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ AND PHILIPPINES' PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO HELD A SESSION OF TALKS HERE TODAY. AT THE OUTSET OF THE MEETING, THE KING WELCOMED THE PRESIDENT, WISHING HER AND THE ACCOMPANYING DELEGATION A GOOD STAY IN THE KINGDOM. ON HER PART, THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT THANKED THE KING FOR A WARM WELCOME AND GENEROUS HOSPITALITY ACCORDED TO HER AND THE ACCOMPANYING DELEGATION. LATER, KING ABDULLAH DECORATED THE PRESIDENT WITH KING ABDULAZIZ NECKLACE. IN TURN, THE PRESIDENT CONFERRED ON THE KING ''SIKATONA NECKLACE'', THE HIGHEST MEDALLION IN THE PHILIPPINES. DURING THE TALKS, THEY DISCUSSED THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS AT THE REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARENAS TOPPED BY THE PALESTINIAN ISSUE AND THE SITUATION IN IRAQ. ASPECTS OF COOPERATION AND WAYS OF THEIR ENHANCEMENT IN ALL FIELDS WERE ALSO REVIEWED. ON THE SAUDI SIDE, THE MEETING WAS ATTENDED BY CROWN PRINCE SULTAN BIN ABDULAZIZ, DEPUTY PREMIER, MINISTER OF DEFENSE AND AVIATION AND INSPECTOR GENERAL; PRINCE NAIF BIN ABDULAZIZ, MINISTER OF INTERIOR; PRINCE SATTAM BIN ABDULAZIZ, VICE GOVERNOR OF RIYADH REGION; PRINCE MIQREN BIN ABDULAZIZ, CHIEF OF GENERAL INTELLIGENCE; A NUMBER OF MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS. ON THE PHILIPPINE SIDE, IT WAS ATTENDED BY SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ALBERTO ROMULO; SECRETARY OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT PATRICIA SANTO THOMAS; SECRETARY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY PETER FAVILA; SECRETARY OF ENERGY RAPHAEL LOTILLA AND A NUMBER OF OFFICIALS ACCOMPANYING THE PRESIDENT.
