PRINCE TURKI AL-FAISAL, THE SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO THE US, VISITED FRIDAY NIGHT IMAM AL-KHO'EI ISLAMIC CENTER HERE IN RESPONSE TO AN INVITATION FROM THE CENTER'S RELIGIOUS GUIDE SHEIKH FADEL AL-SAHLANI. PRINCE TURKI AL-FAISAL MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF IMAM AL-KHO'EI CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, A NUMBER OF IMAMS OF MOSQUES AND ISLAMIC CENTERS, AND THE SAUDI STUDENTS RESIDING IN NEW YORK REGION. HE PARTICIPATED IN AN "IFTAR" PARTY HELD ON THE OCCASION. IN A SPEECH FOLLOWING THE IFTAR PARTY, PRINCE TURKI REITERATED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ISLAMIC SOLIDARITY. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES, KING ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ IN A SPEECH AT THE ISLAMIC SUMMIT, HELD IN MAKKAH LAST YEAR, CONFIRMED THAT THE ISLAMIC UNITY WOULD REALIZE THROUGH DEEP BELIEF, GENUINE LOVE AND SINCERITY IN WORDS AND DEEDS. PRINCE TURKI SAID THE FINAL COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE ISLAMIC SUMMIT OF MAKKAH HAD UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF FIGHTING EXTREMISM WHICH WORKS UNDER THE DISGUISE OF RELIGION AND IDEOLOGY. MOREOVER, PRINCE TURKI SAID THE ISLAMIC SUMMIT'S FINAL COMMUNIQUE HAD STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF AVOIDING ACCUSATION OF FOLLOWERS OF OTHER ISLAMIC SCHOOLS AS NON-MUSLIMS, AND AT THE SAME TIME IT CALLED FOR DEEPENING DIALOGUE AMONG FOLLOWERS OF THE ISLAMIC SCHOOLS AND ENHANCING THE PILLARS OF MODERATION AND TOLERANCE. THE IFTAR PARTY WAS ATTENDED BY IRAQ'S AND IRAN'S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES AT THE UN. AT THE END OF THE MEETING SHEIKH FADEL AL-SAHLANI PRESENTED THE CENTER'S PRIZE TO PRINCE TURKI AL-FAISAL AND TO THE IRAQI AND IRANIAN REPRESENTATIVES AT THE UN.
