By Furio DE MARSANICH

ALMATY, Feb 9 (THE GLOBE)

To the exquisite receptions of the embassy of Saudy Arabia the diplomatic community of Almaty was already accustomed, but tonight H.E. Ibrahim Mohamed Mosly has exceeded his elegant average with a superb party, attended by some 250 guests, including gifts of packets of sweet Saudi dates.

The occasion, in fact, was an important one: the centennial of the foundation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for which the Ministry of Information of that country has poured its diplomatic missions abroad with hundreds of thousands of brochures and books to be distributed at such official receptions.

Venue of the event the spacious Ball Room of the Regent Ankara Hotel, supplied with flows of soft drinks, hot and cold delicacies and a large selection of �unrefusable� pastry.

Quite naturally many diplomats have honoured the Saudi plenipotentiary minister, seen among them H.E. Douglas McAdam of Great Britain, Dr. Fabrizio Piaggesi, ambassador of Italy, the head of the Greek delegation, H.E. Constantin D. Tritaris, the Indian ambassador, Dr. Rajiv Sikri, as well as the Canadian and Ukranian representatives.

Active members of the business community have also presented their congratulations to H.E. Mosly on behalf of their companies: Mobil�s Mr. And Mrs. Carl Burnette, Agip�s Dr. Gianpaolo Poggiagliolmi, Renco�s Mr. Ippoliti, UBS� Mr. Safa Butrous, Tulpar Munai�s Mr. Spencer. Spotted as well Mr. Adriano Massone, the Italian trade commissioner, and his wife.

The foundation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia occurred, by the grace of Allah, at the hand of the late king Abd Al-Aziz Ben Abd Al-Rahman Al-Faisal Al-Saud in the year of Al-Hijra 1317 (corresponding to the year 1902 of the Gregorian calendar), when he conquered the city of Riyadh and started the so-called �Third Era� of the Saudi state history. If for westerners the centennial of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia occurs in the year 2002, for Saudis, whose calendare is the lunar one, the centennial is to be celebrated this year, the 1417th of Al-Hijra.

The late monarch was a man of striving vision and action, able to unite fragmented areas and fighting tribes in one consolidated nation after a 31-year relentless struggle in 1351 H. (1932 AD).