Minister of Manpower Eisha Abdel Hadi denied that the Saudi Minister of Health said his country is not in need of Egyptian doctors. In an interview with Itkalem [Talk] TV program two days ago, Abdel Hadi said the Saudi side needs and appreciates Egyptian doctors. "A number of Egyptian doctors there said they enjoy all their rights, so we should not generalize an individual case. Egyptian-Saudi ties are strong and close and could not be affected by individual cases," the minister said. Abdel Hadi added that her decision on banning Egyptian doctors from working in Saudi hospital coincided with a number of complaints from some doctors that do not get their rights. The issue of the sponsor system in the Gulf States has been discussed during the meeting of the Gulf ministers of manpower in Doha. The ministers pledged to reconsider that system as a prelude to canceling it. For his part, Saudi Minister of Interior Nayef Bin Abdel Aziz said he was saddened by the campaigns launched by the Egyptian papers on Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of the case of the two Egyptian doctors who were sentenced to be imprisoned and lashed. Speaking to the London-based Al-Hayat daily, Prince Nayef said Saudi Arabia appreciates the Egyptians. "We appreciate the Egyptian people and cannot judge them just for the corruption and ugliness of two men," he said. Prince Nayef voiced resentment over the Egyptian papers attacking the Saudi people, judiciary and government. He voiced hope that the Saudi media would not pay the Egyptian papers with the same coin. Head of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights Naguib Gabriel said: "We appreciate the Saudi authorities and judiciary." Speaking to Al-Masry Al-Youm, he said: "Dispute over the case of the two doctors is not with the Saudi authorities, but with the hospital whose owner exploited his position and relations and falsely accused the two Egyptian doctors."
