Leaders laud Abdullah as ‘defender of peace’

Saudi King Salman prays during the funeral of King Abdullah in Riyadh yesterday. AFP/RiyadhWorld leaders paid tribute to Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah yesterday, praising the late monarch as a key mediator between Muslims and the West. US President Barack Obama said he and Abdullah, whose country has for decades been a strategic ally of Washington, had enjoyed a “genuine and warm friendship”.  Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed Abdullah as a “wise politician”. Iran sent condolences to the Saudi people and announced its foreign minister would travel to Riyadh for an “official ceremony” this weekend.  Ex-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, known for his strong personal relations with the kingdom, called the country a friend and said: “For the deceased I ask for vast blessings from God, for his family and dynasty.” Referring to its new ruler, King Salman, Rafsanjani added: “For your excellency I wish success in consolidating the unity of the Islamic world, prosperity, co-existence and brotherhood of the two nations of Iran and Saudi Arabia under the lofty teachings of Islam.” President Hassan Rouhani also expressed his condolences in a short statement. French President Francois Hollande said Abdullah’s vision of “a fair and durable peace in the Middle East remains truer than ever”. Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper praised the late king as “an ardent defender of peace”. And the foreign ministry in Spain hailed Abdullah as “a respected figure throughout the Middle East for his willingness to help resolve conflicts”. In London, Prime Minister David Cameron said the Saudi ruler would be remembered for “his commitment to peace and for strengthening understanding between faiths”. Prince Charles is to travel to Riyadh as the Queen’s representative to pay his respects, the royal’s office said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Abdullah’s rule had been “fair and moderate”, praising him for aiding “dialogue between the Muslim world and the West”. In the Middle East, Lebanon, which has close ties with Riyadh, spoke of losing “a defender and a partner” who had stood by Beirut “in difficult times”. Tunisia’s President Beji Caid Essebsi said the king “ensured... support for causes of justice, peace and development in the Arab, Muslim and entire world”. His country joined Algeria and Mauritania in announcing three days of mourning, while Cairo said its official grieving would run for a whole week.  Several leaders cut short overseas trips to travel to Riyadh and pay their respects.  Jordan’s King Abdullah II left the World Economic Forum in Davos, organisers said, before declaring 40 days of mourning for the late Saudi king.  Israeli President Reuven Rivlin praised Abdullah as an “exemplary leader... with sound judgement”.  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning, describing the late monarch as a “sage”. “With much sadness, we received the news of the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, a loss to the Arab and Islamic world,” Abbas said in a statement. President Recip Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey said Abdullah had contributed “to strengthening co-operation and solidarity in the Muslim world, especially concerning the Palestinian question and the situation in Syria”. At the Asian Cup in Australia, the national football team of the United Arab Emirates donned black armbands for their match against Japan. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called Abdullah a “great leader for his initiative for inter-religious dialogue”, and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani pointed to Saudi involvement in his country’s peace negotiations.  Indonesia paid tribute to a man who “brought prosperity and reforms to his nation”.Philippines hails ‘generous’ leaderThe Philippines yesterday hailed deceased Saudi King Abdullah as a leader who worked to improve conditions for Filipino migrant workers in the kingdom. “The late King was a courageous, generous, and visionary leader who introduced policy changes in education and infrastructure. He was a champion in fighting extremism,” the foreign department said in a statement. Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos work in Saudi Arabia. “The King’s receptiveness to the concerns of the Filipino government helped improve the welfare and prospects of our countrymen in Saudi Arabia,” President Benigno Aquino’s spokeswoman Abigail Valte said. Valte cited the king’s pardoning of condemned Filipino prisoners and agreeing on a standard work contract for members of its imported workforce. “These actions will be remembered by our government, and by those who were positively affected by his decisions and efforts,” Valte added.