Saudi Prince To Get University Honour

A member of a Saudi royal family is to receive a university degree from the University of Ulster.

It is to confer an honorary doctorate on HRH Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud of Saudi Arabia for his services to diplomatic and international relations.

The Prince will receive his Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) at a special ceremony in Jordanstown on 28 September.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Barnett said the University was honouring Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud in recognition of his particular efforts to foster better relations between the West and Saudi Arabia.

"The Prince has held a number of key diplomatic posts, serving as the Saudi Ambassador to the UK and Republic of Ireland and later as the country's Ambassador to the United States," Professor Barnett said.

"He is a skilled diplomat and has done a considerable work to promote strong Saudi-Western relations post-the 9-11 attacks and is Commissioner of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament."

As the co-chair of the C-100 Group along with the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey - an affiliate of the World Economic Forum involving key figures in business, religion, media, academia and other opinion leaders - he has made a significant contribution to encouraging dialogue.

As one of the founders and a member of the Board of Trustees to the King Faisal Foundation, he has also recognised those who foster greater understanding, awarding the annual King Faisal International Prize in 2009 to Stanford University oncology Professor Roland Levy for his work in fighting cancer.

He was also a classmate of President Bill Clinton at Georgetown University in Washington where he now holds a Visiting Professorship.

(BMcC/KMcA)