Government | Friday 18 December, 2015 4:48 am |

Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH), has underscored the leading role of Saudi Arabia and its strong presence globally through its just political stances.
In a press statement at the end of the 18th meeting of the Arab Tourism Ministers in Sharjah on Wednesday, Prince Sultan praised the high respect and strong presence that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has been enjoying at the global level, which in turn allows the Kingdom to play a leading role in world politics.
Prince Sultan stressed the historic role of the Kingdom in leading the region and enhancing its stability. He said the Kingdom is currently experiencing a big shift in caring for national heritage, which is supported by the king.
King Salman is patronizing a leading project at the global level, the "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Caring for Cultural Heritage.” Part of the program is creating awareness through the media, while the major part is exploratory, restoration, economical and funding, he said.
Prince Sultan said the commission wants to strengthen the bond of Saudi citizens with their history and civilized heritage, notably Islam which is a major component where the world should understand that this religion emerged from a land where different civilizations met and was crowned with the emergence of Islamic civilization.
“We cannot stay on the other side of the globe as the world looks at us as we stand on an oil well, or just depend on economic potentials, though important, but rather, the world should look at us as Saudis, Gulf citizens or Arabs who are standing on solid land, the land of civilizations, values and economic and cultural crossroads, where at the forefront comes the land of Islam and Islamic civilization,” he said.
He said the Saudis should not rest on their laurels but play their role in contemporary history.
"Security, prosperity and development to which we aspire in the region will not be achieved unless citizens of the Arab countries, especially the youths, are aware of the history and civilization of their countries," he pointed out.