Crown Prince Abdullah stated yesterday that Saudi Arabia would not be shaken by the smear campaigns of its detractors. "The Kingdom will remain strong and victorious by the grace of God and as a result of the unity and cohesion of its people," he said in remarks carried by the Saudi Press Agency.The crown prince was addressing Saudi and foreign dignitaries including intellectuals and journalists who came to attend the 20th Heritage and Culture Festival currently under way in Janadriya, 45 km north of Riyadh. Prince Abdullah called upon Muslim scholars and intellectuals to play their role in strengthening Arab and Islamic unity. He noted Saudi Arabia's efforts in forging unity and solidarity among Arab and Islamic countries over the past years. "You might have heard about the allegations and accusations leveled against the Kingdom. But, by the grace of God, the Saudi people will not be shaken by such campaigns," the crown prince told the gathering. He said the enemies would be deflated by the willpower of the Saudi people.
Top officials including Prince Miteb ibn Abdullah, assistant deputy commander of the National Guard for military affairs and deputy chairman of the festival's supreme organizing committee, attended the reception. In his extempore speech, Prince Abdullah said that Al-Qaeda militants tarnished the image of Islam and Muslims across the world. "These people do not belong to Islam, nor are they Arabs or Muslims," he said and urged Muslim scholars to defend Islam and work for the peaceful coexistence of various faiths and communities.