The King Faisal Award has been supported by the King Faisal Fund since 19-76.

It is an extremely prestigious award and will be given to 8 people in 5 categories this year.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the award would be given to him for the political and economical reforms he started in the country.

He will also be recognized for Turkey´s role in the regional and international arena, as well efforts spent for the Palestinian people and for the achievement of just and permanent peace in the Middle East.

Erdogan expressed how honored he was to accept this award on behalf of the Turkish people.


The Prime Minister met Turkish and Saudi journalists for lunch in Rihad.


There, he said that they would continue efforts for peace in the Middle East.


The Prime Minister also analyzed the efforts of mediation by the U-S Middle East Special Envoy between Israel and Palestine.


He said here that there would be no outcome in talks that didn´t include Hamas.


Regarding Turkey mediating again between Syria and Israel, Prime Minister Erdogan stressed that Syria had accepted Turkey´s offer of mediation and that there were positive signals in Israeli media.