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| Former Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal dies | Former Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal dies |
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| Saudi Arabia’s Prince Saud al-Faisal, who was the world’s longest-serving foreign minister, has died, according to family members and a foreign ministry spokesman. He was 75. Faisal, who was born in 1940, was one of the highest-profile members of Saudi Arabia’s ruling elite and steered the diplomacy of the world’s leading oil exporter for four decades before stepping down in April. | Saudi Arabia’s Prince Saud al-Faisal, who was the world’s longest-serving foreign minister, has died, according to family members and a foreign ministry spokesman. He was 75. Faisal, who was born in 1940, was one of the highest-profile members of Saudi Arabia’s ruling elite and steered the diplomacy of the world’s leading oil exporter for four decades before stepping down in April. |
| Related: Saudi Arabia reshuffle as king appoints nephew to crown prince post | Related: Saudi Arabia reshuffle as king appoints nephew to crown prince post |
| The prince oversaw Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a major diplomatic player, facing successive regional crises and maintaining a focus on relations with the west. | The prince oversaw Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a major diplomatic player, facing successive regional crises and maintaining a focus on relations with the west. |
| Nawaf al-Faisal, a relative, announced the death on Facebook on Thursday, while a foreign ministry spokesman also confirmed the death on Twitter and expressed condolences. “I wish I could deny the rumour of the news of your death,” the spokesman, Osama Nugali, tweeted. “The eye tears, the heart saddens. We all are saddened to be separated from you.” | Nawaf al-Faisal, a relative, announced the death on Facebook on Thursday, while a foreign ministry spokesman also confirmed the death on Twitter and expressed condolences. “I wish I could deny the rumour of the news of your death,” the spokesman, Osama Nugali, tweeted. “The eye tears, the heart saddens. We all are saddened to be separated from you.” |
| Prince Saud’s nephew Saud Mohammed al-Abdullah al-Faisal also acknowledged the death of the veteran diplomat. “May God accept him in paradise,” he wrote on Twitter. | Prince Saud’s nephew Saud Mohammed al-Abdullah al-Faisal also acknowledged the death of the veteran diplomat. “May God accept him in paradise,” he wrote on Twitter. |
| The official announcement, carried by state television, did not give the cause of death. The prince had undergone multiple surgeries in recent years for his back, which left him walking with a stick, and other ailments. | The official announcement, carried by state television, did not give the cause of death. The prince had undergone multiple surgeries in recent years for his back, which left him walking with a stick, and other ailments. |
| The prince, who took the ministry post in 1975, retired on 29 April, citing health reasons. At the time, the US secretary of state, John Kerry, said he “has not just been the planet’s longest-serving foreign minister, but also among the wisest”. He was succeeded in the post by Adel al-Jubeir, who before that was Saudi Arabia’s ambassador in Washington. | The prince, who took the ministry post in 1975, retired on 29 April, citing health reasons. At the time, the US secretary of state, John Kerry, said he “has not just been the planet’s longest-serving foreign minister, but also among the wisest”. He was succeeded in the post by Adel al-Jubeir, who before that was Saudi Arabia’s ambassador in Washington. |
| Related: Prince Saud al-Faisal obituary | |
| From Washington, Kerry expressed his condolences to Saud’s family and friends, King Salman and the people of Saudi Arabia, saying the prince was “a man of vast experience, personal warmth, great dignity, and keen insights who served his country loyally and well”. Kerry added: “I personally admired him greatly, valued his friendship, and appreciated his wise counsel. His legacy as a statesman and diplomat will not be forgotten.” | From Washington, Kerry expressed his condolences to Saud’s family and friends, King Salman and the people of Saudi Arabia, saying the prince was “a man of vast experience, personal warmth, great dignity, and keen insights who served his country loyally and well”. Kerry added: “I personally admired him greatly, valued his friendship, and appreciated his wise counsel. His legacy as a statesman and diplomat will not be forgotten.” |
| Saud was the son of Saudi Arabia’s third king, Faisal, who ruled from 1964 until he was assassinated in 1975. Prince Saud, who had a bachelor’s degree in economics from Princeton University and had been deputy petroleum minister, was quickly appointed to the foreign minister post which his father had held during his reign. | Saud was the son of Saudi Arabia’s third king, Faisal, who ruled from 1964 until he was assassinated in 1975. Prince Saud, who had a bachelor’s degree in economics from Princeton University and had been deputy petroleum minister, was quickly appointed to the foreign minister post which his father had held during his reign. |
| He was father to six children, three boys and three girls. King Salman’s son Prince Sultan is married to one of Prince Saud’s daughters. The late prince’s brothers are also known as highly educated and eloquent, with Prince Khaled al-Faisal serving as the governor of Mecca and another brother, Prince Turki al-Faisal, heading a research centre and thinktank after decades as the head of intelligence. | He was father to six children, three boys and three girls. King Salman’s son Prince Sultan is married to one of Prince Saud’s daughters. The late prince’s brothers are also known as highly educated and eloquent, with Prince Khaled al-Faisal serving as the governor of Mecca and another brother, Prince Turki al-Faisal, heading a research centre and thinktank after decades as the head of intelligence. |
| Mamoun Fandy, the author of Saudi Arabia and the Politics of Dissent, said his death marked the end of an era as the elder royals move to shift power to younger princes. “The history of Saudi foreign policy is al-Faisal, both him and his father,” he said. “It’s how the world knew Saudi Arabia, through al-Faisal.” | Mamoun Fandy, the author of Saudi Arabia and the Politics of Dissent, said his death marked the end of an era as the elder royals move to shift power to younger princes. “The history of Saudi foreign policy is al-Faisal, both him and his father,” he said. “It’s how the world knew Saudi Arabia, through al-Faisal.” |
| The Arab League secretary general, Nabil al-Arabi, said the world had lost a “noble” diplomat who defended his nation with “courage and valour”. Iyad Madani, the secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the world’s largest body of Muslim nations, said the prince had fought major political battles in his career for the sake of his country and for the Muslim world. | The Arab League secretary general, Nabil al-Arabi, said the world had lost a “noble” diplomat who defended his nation with “courage and valour”. Iyad Madani, the secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the world’s largest body of Muslim nations, said the prince had fought major political battles in his career for the sake of his country and for the Muslim world. |