Saudi Arabia, Cyprus Discuss Joint Cooperation, Combating Terrorism

Prince Faisal meets Cypriot officials in Nicosia. (SPA)
Prince Faisal meets Cypriot officials in Nicosia. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Cyprus Discuss Joint Cooperation, Combating Terrorism

Prince Faisal meets Cypriot officials in Nicosia. (SPA)
Prince Faisal meets Cypriot officials in Nicosia. (SPA)

Cyprus' President Nicos Anastasiades held talks in Nicosia on Sunday with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

Discussions focused on cooperation between their countries and ways to develop it in all fields.

They also tackled elevating relations to broader horizons in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and to achieve the prosperity of both their countries and peoples.

The covered regional and international issues of interest and the efforts exerted towards them.

They stressed the need to intensify international efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to transform the Middle East into a region that is free of weapons of mass destruction.

Prince Faisal also met his Cypriot counterpart, Ioannis Kasoulides, for talks on bilateral relations and ways to bolster them. They also discussed the importance of boosting investments between their countries.

Their talks covered bilateral and security cooperation and relations between Saudi Arabia and the European Union and the importance of developing them in all fields.

They addressed the Kingdom's role in preserving the environment through its Middle East Green and Saudi Green initiatives.

On regional developments, they underlined the importance of supporting all efforts aimed at ending the Iran-backed Houthi militias' humanitarian violations against the Yemen people.

They covered Saudi Arabia and Cyprus' efforts in combating terrorism and extremism in all their forms.

Saudi Arabia views Cyprus as a "bridge" between the Middle East and the EU, helping the 27-nation bloc "understand what’s going on" in the region, Prince Faisal said.

He stressed both his country and Cyprus have a "very, very strong alignment" regarding regional stability and terrorism "whether it is (Yemen's) Houthis or others."

He said both countries agree in the primacy of international law.

"If we do not all agree that international law is the primary guide of state relations, we risk the instability for all," the FM said. "I think it's important that we all stand together to defend the primacy of international law or state sovereignty, a rejection of interventionism of all sorts."



Saudi FM: We Will Not Tire of Diplomacy to Achieve Gaza Ceasefire, Peace

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Brahim Taha, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit attend a press conference, following the Arab-Islamic extraordinary summit held to investigate Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 11, 2024. (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Brahim Taha, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit attend a press conference, following the Arab-Islamic extraordinary summit held to investigate Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 11, 2024. (Reuters)
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Saudi FM: We Will Not Tire of Diplomacy to Achieve Gaza Ceasefire, Peace

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Brahim Taha, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit attend a press conference, following the Arab-Islamic extraordinary summit held to investigate Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 11, 2024. (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Brahim Taha, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit attend a press conference, following the Arab-Islamic extraordinary summit held to investigate Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 11, 2024. (Reuters)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah stressed on Monday that the only way to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution, which several countries around the world support.

Speaking at the conclusion of the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit that was held in Riyadh, he added that the meeting was a follow-up to “our efforts to put a stop to the Israeli crimes.”

The summit tackled means to bolster joint work and continue cooperation with the international community to stop the war on Gaza and ease regional tensions.

“The establishment of an independent Palestinian state is a main demand and key to ending the conflict in the Middle East,” declared Prince Faisal, calling for more countries to recognize the independent state.

“We must not forget the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who are living in fear and suffering displacement. The fastest way to protect them lies in an international resolution for a ceasefire,” he went on to say.

“We want a permanent solution that consolidates peace in the region. The international community and its institutions have been lax in performing their duties towards the Palestinians,” he remarked, adding that the summit will make the world listen to the Arab and Islamic worlds.

Prince Faisal vowed that efforts will continue to achieve the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to reach a ceasefire.

“We will not tire of diplomacy because we believe in peace that we all need and deserve,” he stressed.

Moreover, he underscored the “anger of the Arab and Islamic worlds over the developments in Gaza,” saying the Israeli operations in the sector and West Bank “go beyond ensuring its safety and self-defense, but they are part of an agenda to change the status quo on the ground and destroy prospects for a two-state solution.”

The Arab and Islamic worlds are committed to supporting the Palestinian Authority, said Prince Faisal. “It alone can manage the situation in the West Bank and Gaza and pressure must be exerted on Israel to make it stop undermining its authority,” he stated.

The emergence of a united Arab Islamic position will help ease regional tensions and will have an impact in reaching a solution, he remarked.

Furthermore, he said that the continuation of the war on Gaza is a sign of the international community’s failure. “Priority now lies in ending the war and the suffering of the Palestinian people,” he added.

“We must not allow the international community to forget the truth of the Israeli crimes in Gaza,” he urged.