Saudi Crown Prince Receives Blinken in AlUla

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Blinken in AlUla. (AP)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Blinken in AlUla. (AP)
TT

Saudi Crown Prince Receives Blinken in AlUla

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Blinken in AlUla. (AP)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Blinken in AlUla. (AP)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received in AlUla on Monday US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on a tour of the Middle East amid the Israeli war on Gaza. 

They reviewed bilateral relations and ways to boost cooperation to the benefit of their countries. They exchanged views on regional and international developments and efforts exerted to achieve security and stability, with focus on Gaza and its surroundings. 

Crown Prince Mohammed stressed the importance of stopping military operations, intensifying humanitarian action, and working to create conditions for restoring stability and for a peace process that ensures that the Palestinian people gain their legitimate rights and achieve a just and lasting peace. 

Present at the meeting were Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdelaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of the National Guard Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, and Minister of State and National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed bin Muhammad Al-Aiban. 

US Ambassador to the Kingdom Michael Ratney and his accompanying delegation attended the meeting. 

Blinken had arrived in AlUla earlier on Monday where he was welcomed by FM Prince Faisal. 

He also met with EU High Representative Josep Borrell in AlUla for talks on efforts to prevent the Gaza conflict from spreading, said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.  

Blinken has so far visited Türkiye, Greece, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on his tour. He later headed to Israel. 



GCC Welcomes Agreement between Yemen Govt, Houthis

Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 28, 2023. (AP)
Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 28, 2023. (AP)
TT

GCC Welcomes Agreement between Yemen Govt, Houthis

Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 28, 2023. (AP)
Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 28, 2023. (AP)

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi welcomed on Wednesday the agreement between the legitimate Yemeni government and Iran-backed Houthi militias to de-escalate the situation with regard to the Yemeni banking sector and airlines.

The agreement was announced by the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, on Tuesday.

Albudaiwi expressed the GCC's support for all regional and international efforts and the efforts led by the UN special envoy aimed at achieving peace and security in Yemen.

The announcement underscores the importance the international community attaches to the Yemeni crisis, he added, hoping the agreement will pave the way for Yemeni parties to start the political process, under UN auspices, to reach a comprehensive political solution that achieves security and stability in the country.

He reiterated the GCC's continued support and full solidarity with Yemen, its government and people, and its keenness to encourage all efforts to de-escalate and maintain stability in order to reach peace.