US Secretary of State Arrives in Saudi Arabia

Saudi FM Adel al-Jubeir receives US Secretary of State Pompeo in Riyadh. (SPA)
Saudi FM Adel al-Jubeir receives US Secretary of State Pompeo in Riyadh. (SPA)
TT

US Secretary of State Arrives in Saudi Arabia

Saudi FM Adel al-Jubeir receives US Secretary of State Pompeo in Riyadh. (SPA)
Saudi FM Adel al-Jubeir receives US Secretary of State Pompeo in Riyadh. (SPA)

Newly appointed US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Riyadh on Saturday, the first stop in a Mideast tour and his first trip abroad since his swearing-in on Thursday.

Pompeo was met on the tarmac in Riyadh by a sizeable Saudi Arabian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and US Ambassador Khalid bin Salman.

Besides Jubeir, he is scheduled to hold talks on Saturday with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.

Prince Mohammed had last month embarked on an 18-day trip to the US where he met with President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and several senior officials.

Pompeo is due to travel to Jordan and Israel after Saudi Arabia.



Saudi Arabia Calls for ‘Reliable’ Path to the Establishment of Independent Palestinian State

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah addresses the second meeting of the G20 Foreign Ministers in New York. SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah addresses the second meeting of the G20 Foreign Ministers in New York. SPA
TT

Saudi Arabia Calls for ‘Reliable’ Path to the Establishment of Independent Palestinian State

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah addresses the second meeting of the G20 Foreign Ministers in New York. SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah addresses the second meeting of the G20 Foreign Ministers in New York. SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participated on Wednesday in the second meeting of the G20 Foreign Ministers, chaired by Brazil, urging them to enable the achievement of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the adoption of a “reliable” path to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

"The fact that our meeting is being held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly is an indication of the importance of the G20 and its leadership in ensuring the health of the global economy, enhancing multilateral cooperation, and finding innovative solutions to common challenges,” the Foreign Minister said in his speech.

He underscored the urgent need to adhere to successful models of collective action and the importance of seeking to develop and reform international institutions.

"The repercussions of wars and political conflicts undermine efforts to establish international peace and security and cast their shadows on all aspects of multilateral action, and when these institutions fail to carry out their fundamental duties towards these crises, this creates a gap in international action and a crisis of confidence that undermines their legitimacy. This is what we are witnessing today in the way some international institutions deal with the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine."

The Minister stressed that prolonging the war and expanding its scope deepens the suffering of the Palestinian people, threatens international peace and security, and undermines the chances of achieving comprehensive peace in the region.

"The G20 countries must intensify their joint efforts to overcome the international failure to confront Israel's serious violations of international laws and norms and enable the achievement of a ceasefire and the adoption of a reliable and irreversible path to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state,” he added.

Regarding reforming the United Nations system, especially the Security Council, he stressed that there is an urgent need for radical reform to compensate for the defects in addressing crises, responding to the needs of people, and keeping pace with international transformations and development requirements.

"The Kingdom affirms that the goal of reforming the Security Council is to enhance its credibility and effective response, believing in the importance of this in confronting contemporary crises and challenges, thus contributing to creating a more just, secure and stable world."