August 01, 2005

Prime Minister Paul Martin today issued the following statement on the death of King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia:

“On behalf of all Canadians, I offer my condolences to the royal family and to the people of Saudi Arabia. King Fahd, Custodian of the two holy mosques in Mecca and Medina, was known for his unwavering commitment to his people and to the unity of the Arab nations. During his reign, King Fahd steered Saudi Arabia toward growth and prosperity. He also played a pivotal role in international affairs, by promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.

Canada values its cooperation with Saudi Arabia. We are committed to working for peace in the Middle East and to the struggle against violent extremism. We look forward to working with King Abdullah and Saudi Arabia in facing the challenges ahead and in continuing to build upon the relationship that King Fahd helped to develop between our two countries.”