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Saudi Govt Reiterates Kingdom's Readiness to Mediate in Ukraine Crisis

King Salman chairs a cabinet meeting Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
King Salman chairs a cabinet meeting Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt Reiterates Kingdom's Readiness to Mediate in Ukraine Crisis

King Salman chairs a cabinet meeting Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
King Salman chairs a cabinet meeting Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)

The Saudi government reiterated on Tuesday the Kingdom's readiness to mediate between all parties in the Ukrainian crisis.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Riyadh.

The ministers highlighted the telephone talks Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, held with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

During the telephone calls, Crown Prince Mohammed stressed the Kingdom's support for all efforts that would help de-escalate the tensions and all international efforts aimed at reaching a political solution to the conflict.

The cabinet was briefed on the talks held between King Salman and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Thani, who had paid a visit to the Kingdom last week.

They reviewed the visit paid by the President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, to the Kingdom and the talks he held with Crown Prince Mohammed.

They highlighted the interview Crown Prince Mohammed gave to The Atlantic last week, in which he underscored the major reforms and modernization underway in Saudi Arabia in line with Vision 2030.

The cabinet tackled the meeting of the Arab Interior Ministers that was held in Tunisia and Saudi Arabia's stressing of the importance of cooperation and intensifying joint coordination to preserve the security and stability of the region.

It underlined the Strategy of the Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program that was announced by Crown Prince Mohammed on Monday.

The Strategy marks the beginning of a new era in the scholarship program that will contribute to improving the citizens’ competitiveness through upskilling the human capital in new and promising sectors to fulfill the needs of the future labor market. The Strategy is part of the Kingdom’s efforts to develop human capabilities and achieve the objectives of Vision 2030.

The government noted the Kingdom's lifting of all coronavirus-related restrictions on Saturday, saying it reflects the success of national efforts to combat the virus.

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Conference in Kuwait Warns of Growing Influence of Extremist Groups in Conflict Zones

The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)
The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)
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Conference in Kuwait Warns of Growing Influence of Extremist Groups in Conflict Zones

The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)
The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)

Kuwait reiterated its commitment to working with the international community to tackle the growing threat of terrorism, highlighting the importance of strengthening global cooperation in this fight.

Meanwhile, the UN’s Counter-Terrorism Representative warned that the number of deaths from terrorist attacks is on the rise, with the latest Global Terrorism Index showing a 22% increase in fatalities in 2023.

Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, cautioned that conflict zones could become breeding grounds for terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda.

He spoke at the High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” that began in Kuwait on Monday.

Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al Sabah said: “We expect this phase of the Dushanbe Process to strengthen international efforts aimed at creating a secure and stable future for all.”

“Terrorism knows no borders and does not distinguish between countries or religions,” he noted.

The conference will conclude its work Tuesday, with the adoption of the “Kuwait Declaration” which will reflect the discussions and opinions of the participants and will serve as a guiding document for efforts to combat terrorism.

The Crown Prince urged collective action against terrorism and emphasized the need for unity in facing this challenge. He stressed that terrorism and violent extremism are not linked to any religion, culture, or ethnic group.

He also highlighted the critical role of the UN’s Counter-Terrorism Program and the UN Counter-Terrorism Center in boosting border security, providing member states with the necessary expertise to develop comprehensive strategies that integrate counter-terrorism measures.

This approach is vital for effectively addressing emerging threats at borders.

At the conference's opening session, Voronkov stressed that international cooperation in fighting terrorism should guide all parties toward effective coordination and collaboration to secure their countries and prevent terrorist movements across borders.

Voronkov pointed out that the global security situation is changing, with terrorists exploiting border vulnerabilities. Recent reports show that more than 40% of violent incidents and 10% of deaths from political violence occur within 100 kilometers of land borders.

He specifically noted the growing terrorist presence in coastal West African countries like Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo, mentioning that violent incidents in border areas have surged by 250% over the past two years.

He also highlighted that the latest Global Terrorism Index indicates a 22% rise in global terrorism-related deaths in 2023, reaching 8,352—the highest number since 2017.

Voronkov cautioned that the travel routes used by groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda pose significant risks, especially in conflict-affected regions like the Sahel, where they can recruit and move individuals across poorly secured borders.