King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud

Role Title: King of Saudi Arabia 
Country: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Date of Birth: 1923
Quotation: RThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia lends its full support to the 
efforts exerted to put an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict and realize a 
just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian question that would 
establish justice and restore he legitimate rights and lay down a 
permanent basis for peace,  security, and stability.S

	I am the proud son of Hassa Sudairi and King Abdul Aziz. I was 
born in 1923 in Riyadh into the so called RSudairi SevenS--the most 
influential of the 54 sons fathered by King Abdul Aziz. During my 
childhood,  I was fortunate to attend one of the countryUs first 
educational institutions. My formal education ended at an early age and I 
was forced to  learn about religion, history, and Arab culture from my 
father. Although many of my contemporaries felt I was extremely lazy as a 
youngster, I took a great interest in the field of education. 
	As the nationUs first Minister of Education in 1953, I 
established a system of public elementary and secondary education. At the 
time, there was only one secondary school in the Kingdom. Today more than 
3.2 million students are enrolled in some 83 colleges, seven 
universities, and 18,000 schools. I felt that the goals of society could 
not be accomplished unless illiteracy was abolished throughout the land. 
	I jumped into the world of international diplomacy at an early 
age. When I was only 22, in 1945, I accompanied my brother Prince Faisal 
Bin Abdul Aziz to the signing of the United Nations charter in San 
Francisco. This was invaluable experience for me as it helped foster my 
career in international diplomacy. 
	My political career really kicked off when I led the Saudi 
delegation to the summit conferences of the League of Arab States in 
1959. Following this, I held discussions with French President Charles de 
Gaulle and later the British over the future of the Arabian Gulf. In 
addition, in 1974 I came to the United States and met with President 
Richard Nixon where I negotiated an agreement with the U.S. that led to 
the Saudi Arabian-United States Joint Commission on Economic cooperation. 
U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger characterized the agreement as Ra 
milestone in U.S. relations with Saudi ArabiaS. 
	My career in international affairs reached a near climax when I 
became the Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister in 1975. Among other 
things, I met with U.S. President Jimmy Carter in 1977 to express the 
need for a solution to the Arab Israeli conflict. I always felt that the 
U.S. could play an important part in solving the problem in Palestine. 
These were the roots for a later strong Saudi - U.S. relationship.  As 
Crown Prince, I proposed my own REight Point Peace PlanS in 1981 to try 
to help solve the Arab Israeli conflict. The Arab-Israeli conflict is 
something that I have always placed a great amount of importance on. 
	I was proclaimed the fifth King of Saudi Arabia on June 13, 1982. 
Right away, I established my concern not only for the citizens of my 
Kingdom, but also for the entire world community. In the nearly 14 years 
that have passed since I came into power, I have transformed my country 
from a Kingdom dependent on others, into an exporting fruitful nation. 
The reach of such Saudi financial assistance extends to some 70 countries 
worldwide. Who would have ever believed that a desert country such as 
ours would be producing 2.6 million tons of wheat and 250,000 tons of 
milk, as well as fruits and vegetables.
	Politically, I used my wise and insightful leadership to help the 
Afghans in their struggle to liberate their country from the former 
Soviet Union. I also played a major role in the effort to liberate Kuwait 
in the 1991 Gulf crisis.  I have always actively supported a peaceful 
solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. I attended the Madrid peace 
conference in 1991, and he Moscow peace talks in 1992 to help bring 
Palestinian and Israeli leaders together to the negotiating table. In an 
effort to facilitate the Palestinian-Israeli peace agreement, I 
authorized the donation of 100 million U.S. dollars to be used for health 
care, social services, and unity projects to improve living conditions 
for the Palestinians. 
	Having suffered a stroke just two short months ago, many of the 
day to day Saudi state affairs are being run by Crown Prince Abdullah ibn 
Abdul Aziz. Palestinian President Yasser Arafat offered these words about 
my health, RI, personally, as well as all he Palestinian people, are 
concerned about the health of the Saudi monarch. We have become 
accustomed to the kind gestures of King Fahd, and we hope his health 
improves.S Although I am now 73 years old and my leadership seems to be a 
bit in question due to my health, I still believe in the same principals 
that helped shape this Kingdom. We shall never sacrifice our values and 
religion for materialistic gain. Our aspirations are in response to the 
aims of our people. We are not only working for today, but looking toward 
the future.