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| In Memoriam |
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King Fahd
1923-2005
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On June 13, 1982, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud assumed the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
As the son of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Saud, the legendary founder of modern Saudi Arabia, King Fahd inherited his father's legacy as the guardian of a nation deeply rooted in the Islamic faith.
King Fahd helped design and implement many programs that have shaped Saudi Arabia's progress both at home and in the international arena. As he guided the nation toward a promising future, King Fahd said that he was "confident that a country like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and people such as the Saudi people who achieved all the goals of the past period, are worthy of achieving the plans set for our future, by God's will".
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Amb. Freeman signs condolence book at Saudi Embassy in Washington
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King Fahd was introduced early in life to the world of international diplomacy. In 1945, at age 22, he accompanied his elder brother, Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz, to the signing of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco. Several years later, he traveled to Great Britain to represent Saudi Arabia at the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
This experience in the world of international relations was invaluable because, as the Kingdom began to emerge as a world leader, Prince Fahd assumed greater diplomatic responsibilities.
In 1974, Prince Fahd paid his first official visit to the United States, holding wide-ranging discussions with President Richard Nixon.
Prince Fahd became Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister in March 1975, when Khalid bin Abdulaziz was proclaimed King. The growing leadership of the Kingdom required Crown Prince Fahd to assume an increasingly active role in international affairs. In particular, Crown Prince Fahd's relationship with U.S. officials deepened into one of mutual confidence. Meeting with President Jimmy Carter in 1977, Crown Prince Fahd emphasized the need for a just and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Crown Prince's personal interest in seeking an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict was demonstrated in his 'Eight-Point Peace Plan', proposed in August 1981. One year later the plan was unanimously adopted at the Arab summit in Fez, Morocco, and became the foundation for the 'Fez Declaration'.
King Fahd was an active and effective player on the global diplomatic scene. He never hesitated to use his diplomatic and mediation skills in times of crisis, especially when the interests of Muslims and Arabs were at stake. He actively supported efforts to seek a peaceful resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict and played a major role in forming Arab, Muslim and international support for the effort to liberate Kuwait during the 1990-91 Arabian Gulf crisis. King Fahd was also active in supporting negotiated settlements for other crises in the Gulf region and the Arab and Islamic worlds. In the weeks before the Iraqi invasion on August 2, 1990, King Fahd sought to mediate the dispute between Kuwait and Iraq. His standing and experience combined to make him a prominent leader within the Arab and Islamic worlds to whom many have turned for help and assistance.
Source:http://saudiembassy.net/2005News/News/GovDetail.asp?cIndex=5447
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| Middle East Policy Council |
| 1730 M Street NW, Suite 512 |
| Washington, DC 20036 |
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| Phone: (202) 296-6767 - Fax: (202) 296-5791 |
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| info@mepc.org |
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| All Rights Reserved - 2002 - Middle East Policy Council |
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