“All Algerian pilgrims will move to the Holy Land”, Saudi official says

The chargé d’affaires at the Saudi Arabia Royal embassy in Algiers Mounir Abiddine has revealed the details of the procedures undertaken by his country’s authorities to ensure the success of the 2009 pilgrimage campaign

• He pointed out that the negotiations between the Saudi civil aviation authorities and the Algerian airline company (Air Algérie) wound up in favour of the Algerian “Hadjis” (pilgrims) announcing that more than 32 thousands visas were granted so far awaiting more in the days to come.
• Q: This year’s pilgrimage is undermined by the growing threat of Swine flu virus, can you tell us bout the procedures undertaken by the Saudi authorities to protect the pilgrims from being affected?
• A: The Saudi authorities didn’t spare efforts to provide the best services possible for the pilgrims who are flocking from different corners of the world so far. As concerns the Swine flu, the Saudi health ministry has deployed all the means to guarantee the security of the pilgrims.
• Q: Are there follow up measures undertaken by the Saudi authorities in terms of assistance at the airports and hotels during their stay?
•  A: Thanks God the modernization process of both “Djeddah” and “Medina” airports has been completed and that will enable the pilgrims to complete the procedures rapidly. Moreover, an upstream work has been done few months ago between the Saudi authorities in Algiers and their Algerian counterparts to supervise the Algerian pilgrims.
• Q: What about the negotiations between the countries’ flight companies concerning the transportation of the Algerian pilgrims?
• A: According to the latest news, the problem has been solved three days ago in favour of the Algerian pilgrims, after our ultimate goal remains the serving of the pilgrims and let me tell you that the file was definitely closed. The problem is that the capacity of “Medina” airport is limited and cannot support too much traffic especially during rushing hours; I have never hear about such a problem of cancelling the Algerian company’s flights but the question requires a minimum of organization agreed upon by the two countries.
• Q: Do you confirm your disposal to transport 36 thousands Algerian pilgrims on due time?
• A: With God’s will I can assert that all the Algerian pilgrims will be transported on due time in the best conditions, and I’m herein confirming your religious affairs minister who has already declared that the Algerian pilgrims will all move to Saudi Arabia.
• Q: Is there any message from you to the Algerian pilgrims?
• A: I would like to wish theme the best of luck during their religious trip and ask God to bring them back to their families in good health. As a diplomat, I would like to develop the bilateral ties between the two countries and extend our cooperation to other sectors of activities.