The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received at his guest residence in New York today the U.S. President George W. Bush. At the outset of the meeting, the U.S. President expressed welcome of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in the United States of America, lauding the initiative of the monarch for a high-level meeting on culture of peace, currently ongoing at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York. President Bush said the convening of the meeting at the headquarters of the world organization is considered an honor and appreciation for the role of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in circulating the culture of peace and rapprochement among the followers of religions. He said that his personal participation and delivery of a speech before the meeting today is in appreciation of the leading role of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques at the Middle East and the world levels. President Bush also underscored the great importance the United States or any U.S. president attaches to the U.S. - Saudi relations, recognizing that the Kingdom has a pivotal and basic role to play to reach solutions to the region's issues. He expressed deep gratitude for his relation with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the friendship emerged between him and the King and the wisdom, knowledge, transparency and frankness the king is enjoying. Then they discussed the developments of the financial crisis inflicting the world today, the best ways to limit its repercussions and the need to unite the international efforts to achieve this goal, including the convening of group 20 economic summit to be held on Saturday at the White House in Washington at the invitation of the U.S. President. The talks also covered the overall incidents at the regional and international arena. At the conclusion of the audience, they had a memorial photo-taking session. --More
