LORD ADAM PATEL, HEAD OF BRITISH HAJJ MISSION COMMENDED THE PIONEERING ROLE OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA IN THE SERVICE OF PILGRIMS AND UMRAH (MINOR PILGRIMAGE) PERFORMERS, EXPRESSING HIS APPRECIATION OF THE KINGDOM'S GREAT EFFORTS IN FACILITATING DEVIL-STONING RITUALS. IN A PRESS STATEMENT FOLLOWING HIS MEETING HERE TODAY WITH DR. KIM HOWELLS, BRITISH MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND RESPONSIBLE OF ISLAMIC FILE AT THE BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE, LORD PATEL SAID THAT THE ORGANIZATION OF THIS YEAR'S HAJJ RITUALS WAS REMARKABLE, NOTING THAT ALL SAUDI CONCERNED OFFICIALS EXERTED SINCERE AND BEST EFFORTS TO ORGANIZE HAJJ RITUALS. HE EXPRESSED HIS THANKS TO PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN NAWAF BIN ABDULAZIZ, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND FOR CONSTRUCTIVE COOPERATION WITH BRITISH HAJJ MISSION AND FOR PERSONALLY ADDRESSING THE MISSION BEFORE ITS DEPARTURE FOR THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, LAUDING FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE SAUDI EMBASSY TO BRITISH PILGRIMS.
