Prince Naif awarded the International Golden Shield 2006
Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Interior Minister, was today awarded the International Golden Shield 2006 presented by the International Organization for Prevention of Road Accidents in recognition of the efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of safety and security of pilgrims and the role of Prince Naif personally in his capacity as Chairman of Hajj Higher Committee.
In its citation, the International Agency noted that the Kingdom hosts more than three million people in a limited area at one time every year, making it the world's largest gathering.
The Organization said the honoring comes for the personality of Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz in recognition of this unprecedented effort and the Kingdom's status and ability to run this international event efficiently without any foreign help.
The decoration ceremony was attended by Tunisia's Minister of Interior and Domestic Development Rafeeq Balhaj qasem; Dr. Abdulaziz Saqr Alghamdi, President of Prince Naif Arab University for Security Sciences; Dr. Mohammed bin Ali Kuman, Secretary General of the Arab Ministers Council; and senior officials.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman of the International Organization for Prevention of Road Accidents said he came here today to honor a prominent personality who enjoys Arab and international appreciation, that is Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who is also Chairman of Hajj higher Committee and who also has been chosen by the Organization for the International Prize in the field of traffic safety for 2006.
This is also in recognition of the efforts exerted by the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Hajj Higher Committee to provide security and safety requirements for more than three million people who come from more than 187 countries to the world's largest gathering that necessitates continuous movements for pedestrians and passengers, he added.
He said members of the delegation visited the Kingdom recently to take part in the Education and Safety Conference, organized by the Riyadh-based Prince Naif Arab University for Security Sciences in cooperation with GCC member states Bureau for Education and the Arab Organization for Traffic Safety who reviewed a report presented by the Deputy Chairman of the Arab Organization for Traffic Safety in charge of the Arab gulf region on safety and prevention system.