PM Transcripts

J1JUSTIVAL2A
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA TUESDAY, 15 JUNE 1982
VISIT TO SAUDI ARABIA BY MR SINCLAIR
The Right Honourable Ian Sinclair, MP, Minister for
Defence, will present the Australian Government's
condolences in Riyadh, Saudi-Arabia, on the death
of His Majesty King Khaled bin Abdul-Aziz bin
Abdul-Rahman Al Sa'ud, King of Saudi Arabia.
King Khaled passed away on 13 June and has been
succeeded by his brother, King Fahd bin Abdul-Aziz
bin Abdul-Rahman Al Sa'ud.
A number of other countries will be sending high level
delegations to Riyadh to express condolences. These
include Vice President George Bush from the United
States, Prince Philip and Secretary of State Pym from
Britain, King Juan Carlos of Spain and President
Mubarak of Egypt.
The Australian Government's decision to send a senior
Minister to present condolences in Riyadh is a mark
of the respect in which King Khaled was held and the
importance that is attached to the relations between
Australia and Saudi Arabia. During the seven year
reign of King Khaled, Saudi Arabia has assumed an
increasingly important role in world political and
economic affairs, and has played an important
stabilizing role in Middle East affairs. Australia's
relations with Saudi Arabia also developed strongly
Mr Sinclair will present condolences in Riyadh on
16 June and will return to Australia the next day.
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