Saudi Govt Hails Launch of GCC's Vision for Regional Security

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt Hails Launch of GCC's Vision for Regional Security

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)

The Saudi government praised on Tuesday the launch of the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC's) Vision for Regional Security that aims to preserve regional security and the prosperity of its countries and people and bolster international peace and security.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Jeddah.

The cabinet tackled efforts to bolster cooperation and coordination between Saudi Arabia and countries across the globe that are members of regional and international organizations to boost collective efforts aimed at achieving stability, prosperity and sustainable development goals.

Crown Prince Mohammed expressed his gratitude to God Almighty for enabling Saudi Arabia to successfully host millions of Umrah performers and worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan.

He stressed that they have been able to perform their rituals and prayers smoothly. He also highlighted the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and efforts of the state agencies towards servicing the worshippers.

The cabinet was briefed on the message received by Crown Prince Mohammed from Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that tackled bilateral relations between their countries and means to bolster them in all fields.

Media Minister Salman al-Dossary said the cabinet underlined Saudi Arabia's selection to chair the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in 2025. It said it was a testament to the Kingdom's commitment to international cooperation on issues related to women's rights and empowerment, building upon its achievements in this area.

Domestically, the cabinet reviewed the outcomes of the 31st annual meeting of the governors of Saudi regions. It highlighted the state's dedication to fostering comprehensive development across all parts of the Kingdom. This commitment encompasses continued improvement of services provided to citizens and residents, aiming to improve their quality of life.

Moreover, the cabinet underlined the state's successful efforts in creating job opportunities, training programs, and qualification initiatives for young Saudis. These measures have contributed to a record-low national unemployment rate, with figures reaching 7.7% for Saudi citizens in Q4 of 2023.

The cabinet also underscored the Kingdom's commitment to the preservation and restoration of historical sites to achieve the goals of Vision 2030 and showcase the country's rich Arab and Islamic heritage.

It commended the completion of a project to support and protect 56 buildings at risk of collapse in the Jeddah Historic District.



French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia to Asharq Al-Awsat: Military Option Ineffective in Israel-Iran Conflict 

French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Patrick Maisonnave. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Patrick Maisonnave. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia to Asharq Al-Awsat: Military Option Ineffective in Israel-Iran Conflict 

French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Patrick Maisonnave. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Patrick Maisonnave. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Patrick Maisonnave said Paris believes that military intervention will not resolve the “problem” over Iran’s nuclear program.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said such a solution was “ineffective” because it cannot completely eliminate Iran’s nuclear knowledge or ensure the complete destruction of all of its nuclear facilities.

Moreover, he warned against attempts to change the Iranian regime from the outside, saying it may have dire consequences, such as the collapse of the state, civil war, instability, regional conflicts, migration crises and raise terrorism threat levels.

This instability may also impact the security of the Gulf region and extend to Europe as well, he warned.

Damage to Iran’s nuclear sites may lead to dangerous radiation in the region that may spread to other regions, including Gulf waters, he went on to say.

Furthermore, military intervention will pose major dangers to regional stability, the security of France’s partners and allies in the region, and the Hormuz Strait. It may lead to attacks on American military bases and energy infrastructure, warned Maisonnave.

A diplomatic solution is the best way forward, he stressed, explaining that it will lead to a viable and permanent solution that enjoys international backing. This solution must tackle technical issues, such as enrichment levels. It also averts the grave consequences of military escalation.

A diplomatic solution must ensure that International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors are allowed to tour nuclear facilities at any time and without prior notice, he added.

This is the path that France chose in the past and that it believes is the best way to reach a permanent and peaceful solution, he stressed.

At the same time, the ambassador acknowledged that the Iranian nuclear program was a dangerous threat to French and European security interests, as well as to countries of the Gulf given its potential to destabilize the region and the “security of our allies”.

This concern deepened after IAEA inspectors were for years unable to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program, he remarked.

France and European countries are very concerned that the program was not designed with purely civilian purposes, Maisonnave said.