Algerian Consul General Saleh Atiyah and other diplomats at the farewell ceremony in Jeddah.

Arab consuls general accorded farewell to Saleh Atiyah, Algerian consul general and dean of Arab Consuls General Group, in Jeddah.

Honorary consuls, senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representatives of regional and international organizations joined them at the farewell reception.

Atiyah, who leaves the Kingdom after completing six years as the Algerian consul general, has been promoted as his country’s ambassador to the UAE.

Palestinian Consul General Emad Sha’at said: “In his capacity as a diplomat and dean of the Arab Consuls General’s Group, Atiyah’s contribution was outstanding; he was instrumental in strengthening the bonds between Algeria and the Kingdom on one hand and among the Arab countries on the other. Atiyah was always at the forefront in the events organized by the Arab consulates in a bid to further enhance trade and economy, and cultural exchanges in the Arab world.”

Sheikh Mohammed Mahmood Attar, dean of honorary consuls, said Atiyah played an important role in building strong ties between the Kingdom and Arab countries.

Tunisian Consul General Fathi Neffati said: “Though we are going to miss Atiyah, the friendship among all of us will remain forever and we always will stay in touch with him.”

Atiyah especially thanked Ambassador Jamal Bakr Belkhour, director general of the Protocol Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Makkah Region branch, for his continuous support in his effort to forge closer ties between the Kingdom and the rest of the Arab countries.

He said this ceremony at the end of his tenure as the Algerian consul general is symbolic of the unity and brotherhood among all the Arab countries.

The farewell demonstrates the respect he has from his counterparts in all brotherly countries, Atiyah said. “If the Arab world demonstrates a strong, cohesive unit today, the credit goes to the Arab consuls general for their positive contribution,” he said.

He added that he was confident that the group of consuls general would continue to make efforts in building the Arab world stronger than ever.

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