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GCC Secretary General Welcomes Statement Issued at Madrid Meeting on Two-State Solution

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi
The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi
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GCC Secretary General Welcomes Statement Issued at Madrid Meeting on Two-State Solution

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi
The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, has welcomed at statement issued by several countries that met in Madrid on implementing the two-state solution.

Held in Madrid on Friday, the event included participants from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Türkiye, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, the League of Arab States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Al-Budaiwi affirmed the firm position of the GCC countries in supporting the sovereignty of the Palestinian people over all Palestinian territories occupied since June 1967, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and ensuring the return of refugees in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and international legitimacy resolutions.

The statement issued following the Madrid meeting said that “the international community must take active steps to implement the two-state solution, including universal recognition of the State of Palestine, and its admission as a full member of the United Nations.”

It also called for the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, including from the Philadelphi corridor.

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Saudi Arabia: Former Public Security Director Convicted of Corruption

The ministry affirmed the Saudi government’s commitment to protecting public funds and combating corruption in all its forms. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The ministry affirmed the Saudi government’s commitment to protecting public funds and combating corruption in all its forms. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia: Former Public Security Director Convicted of Corruption

The ministry affirmed the Saudi government’s commitment to protecting public funds and combating corruption in all its forms. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The ministry affirmed the Saudi government’s commitment to protecting public funds and combating corruption in all its forms. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced on Friday that a final ruling had been issued confirming the conviction of former Public Security Director General Lt. Gen. Khaled bin Qarar Al-Harbi for crimes including bribery, forgery, and abuse of power. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, fined one million Saudi riyals, and ordered to return embezzled funds.

The ministry’s statement pointed to a royal order to terminate Al-Harbi’s service, retire him, and investigate him for numerous violations aimed at seizing public funds and personal gain. He was charged with several crimes, including forgery, bribery, and abuse of power. The Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority began investigating the former official and referred him to the appropriate court under the criminal procedures system.

A final ruling was issued against Al-Harbi, confirming his guilt on two counts: bribery and forgery. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined one million riyals, to be deposited into the state treasury.

He was also convicted of exploiting his official position for personal benefit, involvement in government contracts, and embezzling public funds. For these crimes, he received an additional 10-year prison sentence, and the bribes he received, totaling SAR10,084,303, were confiscated and deposited into the treasury.

Additionally, Al-Harbi was ordered to return the embezzled amount of SAR2,827,000 to the state treasury. Gifts and other financial aid amounting to SAR175,000 given to his relatives as bribes were also confiscated, along with two agricultural lands he had obtained through these crimes. Furthermore, he was ordered to return another SAR584,000 to the treasury that he had acquired from these offenses.

The ministry affirmed the Saudi government’s commitment to protecting public funds, combating corruption in all its forms, and safeguarding society from those who exploit their positions for personal gain or to harm public interests. It emphasized that the legal systems would be applied to violators, regardless of their position or status.