King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain's Visit to Saudi Arabia: April 8-10, 2006

[Adry]

King Juan Carlos & Queen Sofia will pay a official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from April 8 to April 10.
All welcome to post news and pictures of this visit here

 

[Adry]

Official trip of their Majesties the Kings to Saudi Arabia, April 8-10/2006
4th trip of the Kings to Arabia Saudi

Attending an invitation from the King of Arabia Saudi, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia will visit Saudi Arabia.
The Kings have travelled with official character to this country in 1977, 1982 and 1994, being the last one a state visit. On August the 5th/2005, King Juan Carlos travelled to Saudi Arabia for the funeral of King Fahd.
The Prince of Asturias paid a official visit in 1999.

http://www.casareal.es/esp/cronicas/Acto.jsp?acto=3214

 

[crisiñaki]

So the Queen's agenda in the last month has been: Spain, France, Spain, Senegal and now Saudi Arabia, she really is a hardworking woman!

 

[fanletizia]

The Kings from Spain to their arrival to Aerial Base of Riad tomorrow, to 17, 00 (local time), will be received by king of Arabia and the Two Custodio of Sagradas Mezquitas - Mecca and Medina -, Abdullah Bin Abudalaziz Al-Saud, a gesture that demonstrates the special importance that the Kingdom gives this visit.
As of that same night and until Don Juan Carlos and Doña Sofía does not receive the Spanish colectivity, Sunday 10 of April in the morning, they will not appear together in acts witnessed by notary public, by special ' idiosincrasiá of the country, in agreement with official sources.
Saudi Arabia is the religious center of the Islamic faith, and although the certain thing is spoken of the reformist proposals of the present monarch, is that this country, in which the 95 percent of their ground is desert, is in that with more rigor the interpretation of the Corán is applied.
The night of her arrival, Doña Sofía will be received by the wife of the Arab king, princess Hassa, while Abdullah Bin Albulaziz Al-Saud will offer to Don Juan Carlos in full dress a supper in the Real Palace.
Sunday the King of Spain will approach until the Consultative Council and the Saudi Agency of International Investments. That same day Doña Sofía will know the ruins Al-Diariyadh, to little distance of the capital, and the National Museum, after visiting a Center of Humanitarian Services in the morning.
The Kings of Spain will be accompanied in this trip by the ministers of Outer Subjects, Miguel Moratinos Angel, and of Industry, Jose Montilla, who will be in charge to sign the political and economic agreements with their homologous saudíes.

http://actualidad.terra.es/familia-real/articulo/reyes_espana_arabia_saudi_823110.htm

 

[fanletizia]

Queen Sofia will have in Arabia Saudi program of women, parallel to the one of King
(delegation of Ceoe that went to accompany to Kings to Riad cancels his visit after the saudíes authorities decided to limit the number of industralists)

Their Majestys the Kings will late initiate a this official trip from three days to Saudi Arabia, that is not only the main petroleum producer and exporter of the world, but that also is the country that more reserves it has, and even the guarantor, to a certain extent, of which the price of black gold does not raise too much in the international market, something that obtains precise increasing its production of barrels.
To their arrival to Riad, Don Juan Carlos and Doña Sofía His Majesty the King of Saudi Arabia and the Two will be received with all the honors on foot of airplane by Guard of Sagradas Mosques, Abdulá Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, that the past summer happened in the throne to King Fadh after its death. With both monarchs Don Juan Carlos he has always maintained a deep relation brotherly, on which the excellent relations of friendship and cooperation are laid the foundations that there is between both countries.
As of that moment, to the Kings they wait for parallel programs to them since, given to the customs and the idiosyncrasy of this Muslim country - governed by an Islamic monarchy wahabi -, in which the separation between men and women reigns in all the facets of the life, Doña Sofía will have her particular agenda. So particular, that not even he will attend the same supper in full dress that the King of Saudi Arabia will tonight offer to Don Juan Carlos in the Real Palace. To the same hour, Her Height Real Princess Hassa, wife of the King, will offer to Reina another supper. Doña Sofía will not go either to which will use tomorrow in the Palace of the Governor of Riad, Prince Salmán.
In fact, the official programs of Don Juan Carlos and Doña Sofía will not return to agree until the next Monday, when both offer a joint reception to the Spanish colony in the residence of the ambassador of Spain in Saudi Arabia, hours before they return to Madrid.

http://www.abc.es/abc/pg060408/prensa/noticias/Nacional/Nacional/200604/08/NAC-NAC-031.asp

 

[zarzuela]

Pictures of the King arriving in Saudi Arabia.

 

[lula]

http://www.hola.com/actualidad/imgActualidad/index.html?currentDay=08-04-2006&currentImg=8

The Kings of Spain come to Saudi Arabia in official visit

The Kings have come in the first hour of this evening to the Air Base of Riyadh in official visit to Saudi Arabia with the aim to increase the political and commercial bilateral relations. By foot of the steps of the plane of the Air Spanish Force, in which they travelled from Madrid accompanied from the ministers of Exteriors, Miguel Angel Moratinos, and from Industry, Jose Montilla, Don Juan Carlos and Dona Sofía were got by the king Abdullah Bin Aldulkaziz To The-Saud.

 

[lula]

From afp-getty

 

[lula]

From terra:

 

[lula]

From reuters via yahoo

 

[lula]

Video

http://www.antena3.com/a3noticias/servlet/Noticias?destino=../a3n/noticia/noticia.jsp&sidicom=si&id=10857492

 

[lula]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060408/wl_mideast_afp/saudispainroyals_060408193547;_ylt=Aj2YGpUDTSoBd37mOFhYeBcZO7gF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5bGVna3NhBHNlYwNzc3JlbA--


RIYADH (AFP) - King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofia began a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia aimed at boosting economic ties between Madrid and the oil-rich Gulf kingdom.
They were greeted by King Abdullah and a host of dignitaries after landing at Riyadh Air Base.
The Saudi monarch was due to host a dinner banquet for the royal couple, on their fourth visit to Riyadh since 1977, before holding talks with Juan Carlos late Saturday, officials said.
The Spanish king, heading a delegation including ministers and business chiefs, met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal after his arrival, state media reported.
Officials said he would visit the Saudi appointed Shura (consultative) Council on Sunday before overseeing the signing of a bilateral investment agreement at the headquarters of SAGIA, the authority charged with promoting investments in Saudi Arabia.
Juan Carlos will also receive a number of ministers at his place of residence, including Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz and Oil Minister Ali al-Nuaimi, in addition to the head of state-run oil giant Saudi Aramco and Saudi businessmen.
The visit will "give a boost" to Spanish enterprises seeking to enter the Saudi market and improve relations which are "not very significant at the economic level," a Spanish diplomatic source said in Madrid earlier this week.
Saudi oil imports meet some six percent of Spanish needs, with Riyadh ranking sixth among Madrid's energy suppliers.
Spain's Repsol was among a group of international companies which signed gas exploration and production contracts with Saudi Arabia in March 2004.

 

[lula]

More from terra

 

[zarzuela]

I hope we get to see many pictures of the activities and events that Queen Sofia attends during this trip. It would be very interesting to see pictures of the dinner offered to Her by Princess Hassa.

 

[fanletizia]

Signature of bilateral agreements between Spain and Saudi Arabia

from terra

 

[fanletizia]

Queen Sofía, during

1.- the visit to the ruins of Al-Diariyadh (1,2,3 and 7)

2.- The visit to the great Sanitary Center of Humanitarian Services Prince Sultán Bin Aldulaziz



from terra

 

[fanletizia]

More images from terra

 

[fanletizia]

King Juan Carlos of Spain (L)

receives traditional Saudi gifts

waves as he arrives for meeting with Saudi officials and businessmen

with Saudi Shura consultative council president, Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid(L) cut a cake following on the signing of an investment promotion agreement between Riyadh and Madrid

from anp

 

[fanletizia]

The King emphasizes in Saudi Arabia that it is the moment to reinforce economic relations

RIAD. - The King of Spain has declared in Riad, in his second day of official stay in Saudi Arabia, that this one is the "propitious moment" to reinforce the narrow bilateral bonds with "intense" economic relations. That is the intention of the stay of the Kings in Saudi Arabia, in his room it travels official to first world-wide oil power and one of the most prosperous economies of the planet. Juan Carlos I animated in that direction before authorities and saudíes investors when concluding its visit to the seat of the powerful Saudi Agency of International Inversiones (SAGIA), whose president, Amr Ibn Abdulá to the Dabagh, proposed the creation of a bilateral investment fund of 5,000 million dollars.

http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2006/04/09/espana/1144596026.html

 

[lula]

Video

The King presides at the signature of two bilateral agreements between Spain and Saudi Arabia

http://www.antena3.com/a3noticias/servlet/Noticias?destino=../a3n/noticia/noticia.jsp&sidicom=si&id=10859909

 

[LaChicaMadrilena]

I love the Queen's skirt! Here you have photo-gallery from "El mundo":
http://www.elmundo.es/albumes/2006/04/09/arabia/index.html

 

[lula]

More from terra

 

[fanletizia]

The King is received

1.- in the Consultative Advice, Majlis Ash Shura

2.- by Prince Salmán, governor of Riad.

from terra

 

[fanletizia]

Queen Sofia during her visit to the Historical Center King Abdulaziz (National Museum)

from terra

 

[fanletizia]

Queen of Spain with the antiquity and the modernity of Saudi A.

The Queen of Spain could contemplate poles today both opposed of Saudi Arabia ': the ruins of Diariyadh, of 500 years ago, and the futurist hospital Prince Sultán, whom it completed with a route by the National Museum.

In the second day of stay in Riad, Doña Sofía had a parallel program to the one of Don Juan Carlos, whom she initiated with a visit to the ruins of Diariyadh, near the capital. The primitive constructions of marinate have not resisted the passage of time and the Saudi Government has undertaken his reconstruction to reflect what was its culture five centuries ago and the place where the present ruling dynasty, To the Saud, had its first enclave when creating the State of Saudi Arabia 73 years ago.
The host of Reina in this occasion was it yesterday princess Hassa, the wife of King Abdullah- was princess Abeer, niece of the King and handcuffs of the present Saudi ambassador before Madrid, prince Saud.
Doña Sofía was interested in these ruins that, as she herself said, are a door to the future and a window to the past, and close by knew her dependencies and the singular method to make arrive from the ceiling the water, warmed up with bonfires, to the ponds of the bath. Originally construction dealed with enormous surrounded by towers defensive, which today it is shaped in the scale models with the five original parts, that were during centuries the social center, cultural and religious.
The dryness of the desert and the houses of marinates, still camouflaged but, if it fits, in the landscape of a day without sun, fucsia was broken with the suit that Doña Sofía chose for this visit.
Reina of Spain does not impose, does not vindicate, but their gestures are eloquent. In a while in that in Saudi Arabia opening speech, their women follow of black. Many take to the head and the feet without the lid. Others aspire to lead and they obtain it only in closed enclosures, like the National Museum, and with cars to play golf, but many of their rights are ignored.
The two saudíes journalists who today followed the visit of Reina left only the eyes free - one of them under sun glasses although assured that they had chosen it freely.
Of the dryness of the ruins of Diariyadh, the hosts of Doña Sofía took to the Humanitarian Center Prince to it Sultán, who rises in the middle of the desert. Conceived like a futurist building, in him they exist themselves most of the medical specialties, although he dedicates himself mainly to the prótesis and the rehabilitation, counting on the most modern technologies. Doña Sofía talked with a young military man, disabled person, who already can move, but he was interested mainly in smallest, like Saida that, with two years and means, has balance problems. The Center depends on a Foundation. Their doctors are of 29 nationalities, of which only the 20 percent is Saudi, and of that at the moment depend 130 patients, although the capacity is of 500. The relatives coexist during some time with the patients before they return to his houses, because the objective of the center is the social reintegration of the patients with discapacidades.
To the entrance there was a great panel with the photo of Doña Sofía, in whom the welcome in Spanish occurred him and, before beginning the explanatory session, sounded the Hymn of Spain.
Reina also visited the National Museum, opened to the public eight years ago and that in eight galleries the evolution of the Arabic peninsula shows, from the ' time of the ignorance before the revelation of the Islam', to today. When finishing the route by the Museum, Reina will have supper in house of princess Abeer.

http://actualidad.terra.es/familia-real/articulo/reina_espana_saudi_826340.htm

 

[zarzuela]

Wow the Queen looks very glamorous with that skirt! Very nice outfit in contrast with the dryness of the Arabic desert.

 

[Paty]

Kings of Spain
Oficial Visit to Saudi Arabia
Pictures from El Mundo

 

[Paty]

More pics From EL Mundo

 

[Paty]

Saudi Arabia and Spain decide to hold periodic meetings.

RIAD. - Spain and Saudi Arabia have decided to hold periodic meetings and bilateral consultations on questions of mutual interest, from the conviction of which with it "it will contribute to the fortification of international La Paz and the cooperation".

The Kings of Spain initiated Saturday a visit to the country. This commitment appears in writing in the memorandum signed in Riad, in the presence of the Kings of both countries, after the supper that the Saudi monarch, Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, offered to Don Juan Carlos in his Real Palace.

http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2006/04/08/espana/1144505636.html

 

[Paty]

Abdullah receives to the King of Spain in the door of its Palace.

The king of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, salio tonight to the doors of its Palace to receive the King of Spain, when this I arrive in full dress at the supper in its honor, during its first day of official visit to Saudi Arabia, that makes next to Queen.

King Abdullah I approach until the entrance to its residence to greet to king Juan Carlos, a gesture very little habitual in the kingdom arabe, and that responds already to the familiar character that the monarch wants to give this visit, like demostro this late when accompanying to the Kings from Aerial Base - on where I land the airplane of the Spanish Aerial Force in which they traveled until its residence in the capital.

http://actualidad.terra.es/familia-real/articulo/abdullah_rey_espana_palacio_825582.htm