Saudi Arabia Marks World Environment Day

Saudi Arabia marks World Environment Day. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia marks World Environment Day. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Marks World Environment Day

Saudi Arabia marks World Environment Day. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia marks World Environment Day. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia has joined the globe in marking World Environment Day, which falls on June 5, emanating from its belief in the great importance in protecting and preserving the environment.

The Kingdom has consolidated its efforts and initiatives in safeguarding the planet’s ecosystem and biodiversity by shedding light on the environmental issues and holding activities that promote the idea of preserving and establishing a healthy environment, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

Moreover, Saudi Arabia has taken strategic decisions to preserve the environment, the most important of which was the establishment of the Special Forces for Environmental Security in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Furthermore, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have shown great attention to the environment sector. They believe that supporting the sector is religious, national and humanitarian duty and responsibility towards future generations

World Environment Day is a global occasion to review efforts and actions aimed at preserving the environment.

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has been successful in promoting awareness about the importance of the environment and has pursued related objectives in line with Vision 2030.

Under the supervision of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed, the ministry has taken a number of strategic decisions to preserve the environment and build a society for people to enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

The founding of the Saudi Society for Environmental Sciences at King Abdulaziz University was a true translation of the leadership’s interest in environmental affairs.

The Society has promoted the university’s profile on the international scene through holding scientific meetings, training courses, workshops, expeditions trips, educational seminars and awareness campaigns.



Syria's New Rulers Urge US to Lift Sanctions During Visit to Doha

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, meets Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, January 5, 2025. (SANA/Handout via Reuters)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, meets Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, January 5, 2025. (SANA/Handout via Reuters)
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Syria's New Rulers Urge US to Lift Sanctions During Visit to Doha

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, meets Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, January 5, 2025. (SANA/Handout via Reuters)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, meets Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, January 5, 2025. (SANA/Handout via Reuters)

Syria's new rulers said on Sunday that US sanctions on Syria were an obstacle to the war-torn country's rapid recovery and urged Washington to lift them during a visit by Syrian officials to Qatar.

"These sanctions constitute a barrier and an obstacle to the rapid recovery and development of the Syrian people who await services and partnerships from other countries," Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani told reporters after meeting with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as foreign minister.

"We reiterate our calls for the United States to lift these sanctions, which have now become against the Syrian people rather than what they previously were: imposed sanctions on the Assad regime," he said.

Shibani, on his second foreign trip less than a month after former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by opposition factions on Dec. 8, said that Qatar will be a partner in the new phase in Syria.

Doha had not normalized ties with Assad over his government's violent response to 2011 protests and backed the opposition instead.

Shibani, who was joined by Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Head of Intelligence Anas Khattab, met with other senior Qatari officials including Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, a Qatari official told Reuters earlier.

Shibani presented the Qataris a clear roadmap for the near future in Syria and steps that would be taken by the new Syrian administration, Al-Khulaifi told reporters after the meeting.

"We are working together to prevent any foreign interference in Syrian affairs," Al-Khulaifi added.

Shibani said the roadmap is meant to "rebuild our country, restore its Arab and foreign relations, enable the Syrian people to obtain their civil and basic rights, and present a government that the Syrian people feel it represents them and all their components."

He is expected to also visit the United Arab Emirates and Jordan this week to "support stability, security, economic recovery and build distinguished partnerships," according to his account on X.

Shibani embarked on his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday where Saudi officials discussed how best to support Syria's political transition.