Saudi politician and diplomat Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir reviewed diplomacy served by the late Prince Saud Al-Faisal as successful and to have created a renewed legacy of positive diplomatic work worldwide.
The top diplomats and politician said that Faisal’s courageous positions in international forums and determination to defend the dignity of the nation “solved countless issues and dilemmas in a way displaying his individuality and dedication to the king, his homeland, religion and nation.”
This came at the Prince Saud Al-Faisal seminar held in Riyadh as part of the 32nd session of the National Festival for Heritage and Culture in Saudi Arabia.
Speakers reviewed the positions of the late Prince Faisal, his positions, wisdom and outstanding leadership in delivering with diplomatic dexterity speeches at Arab and international forums.
Faisal defended Arab nations and Islam through his speeches at the United Nations, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League. To his credit, the late diplomat never failed in strongly delivering his message.
“The late Saud al-Faisal has received eulogies and tributes in volume, matching his legacy. What is left of his memory are the human values and rare qualities that rarely are found in one person-- When we first heard the news of the Zionists occupying Holy Jerusalem, he shed a tear,” Prince Turki al-Faisal said.
Reviewing Faisal’s wisdom, Turki highlighted the deceased’s wisdom and referred “to his political administration, which stopped bloodshed in Lebanon, then his policy during the Iran-Iraq war, and his dealing with other tragedies that hit the Arab nation.”
“Prince Saud Al-Faisal’s stances were crystal clear everywhere in the Arab and Islamic world and even clearer to Bahrain which he has defended with all his strength at various forums and never spared a single effort to ensure its security and stability, embodying through his authentic Arab positions, the ties of brotherhood and common destiny of the two brotherly countries and peoples throughout history,” said Sheikh Khalid in his keynote speech.
“Prince Saud al-Faisal's qualities and diplomacy are hard to sum up,” Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said.
“The first crisis he dealt with was the Lebanese crisis,” he added.
Faisal oversaw the Taif Agreement, also the National Reconciliation Accord or Document of National Accord, which was reached to provide “the basis for the ending of the civil war and the return to political normalcy in Lebanon”.
Negotiated in Saudi Arabia, it was designed to end the Lebanese Civil War.
“He was modest and well-informed and worked diligently despite his health and for many years—after having worked with him for 30 years, I cannot recall him ever being late or canceling a date despite his health being in the way," Jubeir added on Faisal’s dedication to diplomacy.
“He dealt with crises, with long hours stretching to 11 hours and 13 hours at a time.”
He pointed out that Faisal encouraged young diplomats, and called them to develop themselves.
