Qatari Vehicles Start Crossing Border into Saudi Arabia

A file photo taken on June 23, 2017, shows a general view of the Qatari side of the Abu Samrah border crossing with Saudi Arabia. (File/AFP)
A file photo taken on June 23, 2017, shows a general view of the Qatari side of the Abu Samrah border crossing with Saudi Arabia. (File/AFP)
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Qatari Vehicles Start Crossing Border into Saudi Arabia

A file photo taken on June 23, 2017, shows a general view of the Qatari side of the Abu Samrah border crossing with Saudi Arabia. (File/AFP)
A file photo taken on June 23, 2017, shows a general view of the Qatari side of the Abu Samrah border crossing with Saudi Arabia. (File/AFP)

Qatari vehicles crossed into Saudi Arabia through a land border on Saturday for the first time since Arab states severed diplomatic and transport ties with Doha in mid-2017, Saudi state TV said, following a deal this week to restore relations.

"It's good the crisis has been resolved, and the warm welcome we had, and the happiness we see in our brothers," the driver of the second car to pass through the Abu Samra-Salwa crossing told Ekhbariya TV.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced an end to the dispute with Qatar.

Also, a UAE official this week said travel and trade links could resume within a week of the deal.

Qatar Airways on Thursday began re-routing some of its flights through Saudi airspace, Reuters reported.

Etihad airways, Abu Dhabi's carrier, also intends to recommence services between Abu Dhabi and Doha, a spokesperson said on Saturday.

Measures to contain the spread of the new coronavirus are in place on both sides of the Saudi-Qatar land border.

All arrivals into Qatar crossing at Abu Samra must present a negative COVID-19 test, take a new test at the border and quarantine for one week in one of a number of selected hotels.



Saudi Arabia Urges International Community to Halt Israeli Violations of International Law, Norms

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud charing Tuesday's cabinet session - SPA
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud charing Tuesday's cabinet session - SPA
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Saudi Arabia Urges International Community to Halt Israeli Violations of International Law, Norms

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud charing Tuesday's cabinet session - SPA
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud charing Tuesday's cabinet session - SPA

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reiterated its call upon the international community to fulfill its responsibility in halting Israel's ongoing violations of international law and norms. This came during the cabinet session held on Tuesday, which was chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The Cabinet also stressed the importance of respecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity to prevent further escalation of regional crises and to support efforts toward achieving a just and comprehensive peace.

The Cabinet was further briefed on the message that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques received from Republic of Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and the two phone calls received by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud from President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula.
The Cabinet reviewed the outcomes of the Crown Prince's meeting with Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Kyriakos Mitsotakis and of the strategic partnership council between the two friendly countries, which included reviewing cooperation ties and means to enhance them across various fields and exchanging views on developments of mutual interest and ongoing efforts in this regard.
In a statement to SPA following the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary highlighted the Cabinet's discussion of current regional and international developments. The Cabinet commended the broad international participation in the recent ministerial meetings on Syria hosted by the Kingdom, which aim to support the Syrian people through humanitarian and economic assistance and to help them rebuild Syria as a unified, independent, and secure nation for all its citizens. The Cabinet emphasized that Syria must be free from terrorism and any aggression against its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The meeting also reviewed the Kingdom's ongoing international development and humanitarian relief efforts, which aim to alleviate the suffering of those in need worldwide.