Leaders send condolences on the passing of King Abdullah

(Baonghean.vn) - On Friday, January 23, in a short statement, the Royal Palace announced that King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia had passed away and expressed its deepest condolences over the passing of King Abdullad.

King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud at the Royal Palace on September 29, 2013. Photo: AFP

King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, long known as a conservative, hard-line leader of Saudi Arabia, died Friday at the age of 90. Pneumonia is believed to have been the cause of King Abdullah's death. Abdullah was hospitalized on December 31 in Riyadh with the disease.

Upon receiving the news, many world leaders sent condolences and expressed their grief to the country and people of Saudi Arabia. In the condolences, the countries highly appreciated the efforts of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, especially in the mission of bringing “peace to the Middle East”.

In the Americas, President Barack Obama praised King Abdullah as “a great leader with courage and conviction”. Mr. Obama appreciated that the King had taken bold initiatives to promote the formation of peace for the Arab world. In addition, Mr. Obama said that the US and Saudi Arabia have worked together in many areas and that Mr. Obama always liked King Abdullah’s views as well as “very much appreciated the sincere and warm friendship” between the two.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he would remember King Abdullah as a man “passionate about his country, its development and its integration into the global economy.” Harper also praised King Abdullah as “a strong supporter of the Middle East peace process.”

In Europe, according to a report from the Élysée Palace, French President Francois Hollande sent his condolences and assessed King Abdullah as a politician whose actions had great influence in the country's history and who always wanted peace and stability in the Middle East.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said King Abdullah would always be remembered as a man who had contributed greatly to his country and was committed to peace and inter-religious understanding.

In Asia, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened” by the news of King Abdullah’s death. Modi said that with the passing of King Abdullah, the people of Saudi Arabia have lost an influential voice in their country.

Before the passing of King Abdullah, Mr. Yoshihide Suga - spokesman of the Japanese government also praised "the great role of the King over a long period of time for the peace and stability of Saudi Arabia, for the Muslim community and for the whole world".

Chu Thanh

(According to Liberation 23/1)