Saudi Govt. Stresses Need to Respect COVID-19 Preventive Measures

King Salman chairs a virtual cabinet meeting. (SPA)
King Salman chairs a virtual cabinet meeting. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt. Stresses Need to Respect COVID-19 Preventive Measures

King Salman chairs a virtual cabinet meeting. (SPA)
King Salman chairs a virtual cabinet meeting. (SPA)

The Saudi government stressed on Tuesday the need for citizens and residents to adhere to the preventive measures aimed at curbing the novel coronavirus.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the virtual cabinet meeting.

The ministers reviewed the measures the Kingdom has been taking to ease the restrictions imposed over the outbreak.

King Salman emphasized that the health of the citizens and residents was his top priority.

The cabinet hailed the huge support King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, have offered the concerned sectors, allowing them to improve their efforts in preparing for and containing the outbreak.

They praised the concerned authorities for raising awareness among the people, maintaining the health sector and doubling the capacities of labs, intensive care units and number of ventilators.

The cabinet expressed its great confidence in the capacity of the health sector and its advanced capabilities, which were provided by the wise leadership through financial and moral support.

It noted the state’s investment in the health infrastructure over the years, which has allowed it to respond rapidly and with high efficiency to the challenges caused by the pandemic. This has enabled it to provide health care to all despite the difficult conditions sparked by the outbreak and effectively saving lives.

The government also addressed last week's 2020 donor conference for Yemen that was hosted by Saudi Arabia in partnership with the United States at the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed. The event saw the participation of 126 parties from 66 countries, as well as several UN and non-government agencies. The conference pledged 1.35 billion dollars for Yemen, including 50 million pledged by Saudi Arabia.

The Kingdom will continue to support the Yemeni people and exert all efforts to reach a sustainable political solution to their conflict.

The cabinet reviewed the latest regional and international developments. It again welcomed Egypt’s efforts that are aimed at resolving the Libyan conflict. The Cairo Declaration, announced on Saturday, called for a ceasefire, resuming political talks and electing a leadership council.

The ministers also rejected Israel’s plans to annex territories in the occupied West Bank, condemning any potential unilateral measures and any violations of international resolutions. The ministers also expressed their rejection of any move that would hamper the resumption of the peace process that is aimed at achieving security and stability in the region. Saudi Arabia remains committed to Palestinian people and their choices.



Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra
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Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday expressing concern over the recent military movements witnessed in the governorates of Hadhramaut and al-Mahra.

It noted that “the actions carried out by the Southern Transitional Council were taken unilaterally, without the approval of the Presidential Leadership Council or coordination with the coalition leadership”.

The Kingdom described the moves as an “unjustified escalation” that has harmed the interests of the Yemeni people across all segments of society, undermined the Southern cause, and weakened the coalition’s efforts.

The Kingdom further emphasized that, in recent months, it has focused on maintaining unity and has undertaken intensive efforts to reach peaceful solutions to address the situation in the two governorates, as part of its ongoing endeavors to restore stability.

The statement added that these efforts were “coordinated with the brethren United Arab Emirates, the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, and the Yemeni government to contain the situation”.

It said that a “joint Saudi–Emirati military team was dispatched to coordinate with the Southern Transitional Council in Aden, ensuring the withdrawal of its forces from the two governorates and the handover of camps to the National Shield Forces and local authorities under the coalition’s supervision”.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that efforts are still underway to restore the situation to its previous state, expressing the Kingdom’s hope that the public interest will prevail and that the Southern Transitional Council will take the initiative to de-escalate tensions and urgently and peacefully withdraw its forces from the two governorates.

Saudi Arabia also underscored the importance of cooperation among all Yemeni forces and components, exercising restraint, and avoiding actions that could undermine security and stability.

The Kingdom reiterated its position that the “Southern cause is a just issue with historical and social dimensions and can only be resolved through dialogue that brings all Yemeni parties together at one table, within a comprehensive political process that ensures a lasting solution in Yemen”.

The statement concluded by affirming the Kingdom’s “support for the Chairman and members of the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government, in a manner that achieves security, stability, development, and peace in the sisterly Republic of Yemen”.


MWL Condemns Attack Targeting Pakistani Police

The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
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MWL Condemns Attack Targeting Pakistani Police

The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
The Muslim World League (MWL) logo

The Muslim World League (MWL) strongly condemned the attack targeting police personnel in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

In a statement issued by its General Secretariat, MWL Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa, affirmed the League’s solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the face of all threats to its security and stability. He reiterated the MWL’s firm rejection and condemnation of violence and terrorism in all their forms and under any pretext.

He also extended his sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims and to the Pakistani people.


Sultan of Oman Awards Military Order to Royal Saudi Air Force Commander

Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz receives the Military Order of Oman (Second Class). (SPA)
Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz receives the Military Order of Oman (Second Class). (SPA)
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Sultan of Oman Awards Military Order to Royal Saudi Air Force Commander

Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz receives the Military Order of Oman (Second Class). (SPA)
Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz receives the Military Order of Oman (Second Class). (SPA)

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik awarded on Wednesday the Military Order of Oman (Second Class) to Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz in recognition of his efforts and contributions to strengthening military cooperation between the two countries.

The order was presented to the RSAF commander by Omani Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, in the presence of Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) Air Vice Marshal Khamis Al Ghafri, Saudi Ambassador to Oman Ibrahim bin Saad bin Bishan, and the accompanying delegation.

During the visit, the RSAF commander also met with Minister of the Royal Office of Oman General Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nomani for talks on issues of mutual interest.

Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz arrived in Oman on Tuesday on an official visit during which he met with the commander of RAFO. The discussions addressed issues of common interest, particularly in the field of joint training and exercises.

The visit included a tour of the Air Center for Specialized Training, where the delegation reviewed the advanced capabilities on display, reflecting the level of development achieved by the Royal Air Force of Oman.