Saudi Foreign Minister Stresses Deep Bond With Morocco

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Bin Abdullah Al Saud speaking at a joint press briefing with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita at the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Bin Abdullah Al Saud speaking at a joint press briefing with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita at the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Saudi Foreign Minister Stresses Deep Bond With Morocco

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Bin Abdullah Al Saud speaking at a joint press briefing with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita at the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Bin Abdullah Al Saud speaking at a joint press briefing with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita at the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Bin Abdullah Al Saud welcomed on Wednesday evening in Marrakesh the close and fraternal relations uniting Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at a joint press briefing with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita, at the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, the Saudi FM highlighted the depth of relations between the two brotherly countries.

Saudi Arabia and Morocco celebrate this year the 65th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan also acknowledged the support of Morocco to the candidacy of Saudi Arabia to host the Universal Exhibition (Expo 2030).

The Saudi FM said that the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS was an opportunity to address various issues of common interest.

He then highlighted the success of the first session of Moroccan-Saudi political consultations, held recently in Riyadh, and which will continue next June in Rabat.

Regarding the fight against terrorism, Prince Faisal bin Farhan stressed the central role played by the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in the field of counter-terrorism, as well as the importance of cooperation and coordination between different countries to end this threat.

For his part, Bourita said that Rabat and Riyadh maintain permanent coordination relations, noting that “the supreme interests of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are strategic interests for Morocco.”

He added that the talks were an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral relations, noting that the two kingdoms share the same views on several regional and international issues.



Biden: Joseph Aoun is ‘First-Rate Guy’

FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
TT

Biden: Joseph Aoun is ‘First-Rate Guy’

FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)

US President Joe Biden welcomed the election of Joseph Aoun as Lebanon's president on Thursday, saying in a statement that the army chief was the “right leader” for the country.

“President Aoun has my confidence. I believe strongly he is the right leader for this time,” said Biden, adding that Aoun would provide “critical leadership” in overseeing an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.

Aoun's election by Lebanese lawmakers ended a more than two-year vacancy and could mark a step towards lifting the country out of financial meltdown.

“We finally have a president,” Biden said later, at the end of a meeting on the response to major wildfires in the US city of Los Angeles.

He said he had spoken to Aoun by phone on Thursday for “20 minutes to half an hour,” describing the Lebanese leader as a “first-rate guy.”

Biden pledged to continue US support for Lebanon’s security forces, and for Lebanon’s recovery and reconstruction, the White House said in a readout of Biden’s call with Aoun.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Aoun's election “a moment of historic opportunity,” which offered Lebanon a chance to “establish durable peace and stability.”

Aoun, who turned 61 on Friday, faces the difficult task of overseeing the fragile ceasefire with Israel in south Lebanon.

Separately, Biden spoke about the hostage talks between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“We’re making some real progress,” he told reporters at the White House, adding that he had spoken with US negotiators earlier Thursday.

“I know hope springs eternal, but I’m still hopeful that we’ll be able to have a prisoner exchange.”

Biden added: “Hamas is the one getting in the way of that exchange right now, but I think we may be able to get that done. We need to get it done.”