Yemenis Begin Drawing Roadmap Towards Peace

A general view shows a conference on Yemen's  war hosted by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council in the Saudi capital Riyadh on March 30, 2022. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP)
A general view shows a conference on Yemen's war hosted by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council in the Saudi capital Riyadh on March 30, 2022. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP)
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Yemenis Begin Drawing Roadmap Towards Peace

A general view shows a conference on Yemen's  war hosted by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council in the Saudi capital Riyadh on March 30, 2022. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP)
A general view shows a conference on Yemen's war hosted by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council in the Saudi capital Riyadh on March 30, 2022. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP)

The Yemenis kickstarted a marathon of consultations that included most of the war-torn country’s parties, components, and personalities, amid Yemeni, regional, and international optimism. Talks sought drafting a roadmap that would move Yemen from the state of war to peace.

While diplomats and officials affirmed that holding intra-Yemeni consultations is a positive step in the right direction towards achieving comprehensive peace in the country, participants at the talks considered the Gulf invitation as an opportunity reflecting the interests of Yemen that should not be neglected.

In his opening speech at the talks, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Nayef Al-Hajraf emphasized that the Riyadh Agreement represents a roadmap and a Yemeni national entitlement, where the completion of its items is a Yemeni requirement.

Al-Hajraf stressed there is no solution but the peaceful one, and that the war with all its hardships cannot realize the envisioned security and stability, expressing hope for the consultations to mark the start of a year of relief for people.

The secretary general said that intra-Yemeni consultations with their six axes (political, economic and development, relief and humanitarian, social, and media aspects) represent a platform for Yemenis to diagnose the reality and understand its difficulties, predict the future and prepare for its challenges and plan practical steps that move Yemen from the state of war and woes to the state of peace and hopes.

Al-Hajraf said that the success of the consultations is not an option rather a duty that requires all to feel the national responsibility and discard all reasons of division and domestic differences and to effectively contribute to realizing the required and urgent national reconciliation necessary to build a clear future map to restore stability in Yemen and achieve the development and welfare of its people.

He praised international community efforts for ending the conflict in Yemen and valued the Saudi-led Arab Coalition’s call for a ceasefire.

Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hussein Ibrahim Taha said dialogue is the only way to resolve the eight-year conflict in Yemen.

“The Yemeni people have the right to aspire to a decent life and a better future,” he added.

For his part, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said that there is an urgent need to support a comprehensive solution in Yemen, pointing to the importance of cooperation with regional organizations to contribute to solving the Yemeni crisis.



Saudi and Indonesian Leaders Hold Talks on Regional, Global Issues

The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 
The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 
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Saudi and Indonesian Leaders Hold Talks on Regional, Global Issues

The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 
The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman held official talks on Wednesday with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, focusing on the latest regional and international developments, as well as efforts to address them. The leaders also discussed a range of issues of common interest and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The meeting took place at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, where Subianto was welcomed with an official reception ceremony. During their discussions, the two sides reviewed the state of relations between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia and explored opportunities to expand collaboration across various sectors.

The visit also marked the convening of the first session of the Saudi-Indonesian Supreme Coordination Council. Senior officials from both countries attended the meeting, where a number of topics on the council’s agenda were addressed. At the conclusion, the two leaders signed the official record of the proceedings.

President Subianto arrived in Jeddah on Tuesday for a state visit to the Kingdom. He was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport by Prince Saud bin Mishaal, Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region; Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi, who served as the accompanying minister; and other senior officials.

The Indonesian president’s visit comes amid significant regional developments, highlighting the importance of close coordination between Riyadh and Jakarta to reinforce regional and global security and stability.

Saudi Arabia and Indonesia share a common vision on resolving conflicts through peaceful, diplomatic means and dialogue. Both countries emphasize the need to create conditions that promote stability and security in the Middle East and beyond.

Ties between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have steadily grown over nearly eight decades, encompassing political, economic, and cultural cooperation. The two countries are influential members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and play important roles within the G20. They are also bound by longstanding and close ties between their peoples.

Formal relations date back to the era of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman, when Saudi Arabia was among the first nations to recognize Indonesia’s independence. This early recognition paved the way for the exchange of diplomatic missions, which later developed into full embassies. Indonesia opened its first embassy in Jeddah in 1948, while Saudi Arabia established its embassy in Jakarta in 1955.

Today, Saudi Arabia is Indonesia’s largest trading partner in the region. Both governments are committed to strengthening and diversifying trade, overcoming obstacles that hinder economic exchange, and fostering deeper engagement between their private sectors. Bilateral trade reached $6.5 billion by the end of 2024.

According to the Saudi Aid Platform, the Kingdom has implemented 113 projects in Indonesia, with a combined value of approximately $670 million. These projects span sectors such as education, transport and logistics, industry, mining, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, healthcare and early recovery, housing, non-food assistance, and a variety of developmental, humanitarian, and charitable initiatives.