Saudi Arabia, France Stress Importance of Strengthening Defense Cooperation

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz at the Elysée. SPA
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz at the Elysée. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, France Stress Importance of Strengthening Defense Cooperation

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz at the Elysée. SPA
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz at the Elysée. SPA

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and French President Emmanuel Macron stressed during talks they held at the Elysée Palace in Paris the need for continuous evaluation of the security and stability of the Middle East.

A final statement was issued on Friday concerning the visit of the Crown Prince to the French capital. It said the two sides discussed the historical and strategic relations between the two countries, and the means to develop them in all fields. They also exchanged views on the current regional and international developments.

The discussions also focused on ways to deepen the investment partnership between the two countries by enhancing cooperation in renewable energy - including solar and wind energy – and in clean hydrogen, and adhering to the principles of the Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.

The talks touched on aspects of strategic partnerships and ways to develop them, the importance of stabilizing global energy markets, and sustaining food supplies of wheat and grains to all countries, and maintaining an abundance of supply and price stability.

The Crown Prince and Macron stressed the need for continuous evaluation of the common threats to the two sides’ interests and the security and stability of the Middle East and the importance of strengthening defense cooperation and partnership.
The talks also touched on discussing ways to develop and enhance cooperation and coordination on issues of common concern, including combating terrorism and its financing, combating all forms of crimes, and exchanging expertise and training.

They tackled the importance of resolving international disputes through diplomatic and peaceful means, adherence to the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of good neighborliness, and respect for the unity and sovereignty of countries.
The French side commended the Kingdom's efforts and support for the truce in Yemen. The Kingdom's appreciation for France's support for UN efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis per the three references was also underscored.

They discussed the two countries' support for Lebanon's sovereignty, security, and stability, and the importance of implementing comprehensive political and economic reforms. They also expressed their satisfaction with the Saudi-French Fund's efforts to support humanitarian and relief work in Lebanon per the highest standards of transparency.

The Crown Prince and Macron had common views on the need to intensify efforts to reach a comprehensive and just settlement to the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution, relevant international legitimacy resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative, in a manner that ensures the Palestinian people’s right to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The talks stressed the importance of reaching a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the territorial integrity of Syria and the safety of its people.

The two sides also touched on international efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, to ensure that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful, and urge Tehran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, maintain the principles of good neighborliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of the regional countries.

The Crown Prince expressed to Macron the Kingdom's appreciation for France's support for the candidacy of Riyadh to host the World Expo 2030.



Kuwaiti Emir Affirms Support for Saudi Efforts to Implement Two-State Solution

Kuwaiti Emir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA)
Kuwaiti Emir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA)
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Kuwaiti Emir Affirms Support for Saudi Efforts to Implement Two-State Solution

Kuwaiti Emir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA)
Kuwaiti Emir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA)

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah stressed on Sunday the need to halt violence in the Gaza Strip, provide international protection for innocent civilians, and secure safe corridors for urgent humanitarian aid.
The Emir reaffirmed full support for the Saudi leadership in the efforts aimed at recognizing the State of Palestine within the framework of the international coalition to implement the two-state solution.
During the opening speech of the 45th Gulf Summit hosted by Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad reiterated his condemnation of the brutal Israeli occupation of the occupied Palestinian land and the successive genocides against the Palestinian people.
“We urge the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to fulfill its responsibilities by ensuring the implementation of relevant resolutions, halting the violence, providing international protection for innocent civilians, and securing safe corridors for urgent humanitarian aid,” he said.
The Emir then emphasized Kuwait's firm stance in support of the Palestinian people and their cause in establishing an independent state within the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant international resolutions.
Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad also hit out at what he described as the “double standards in the application of relevant international laws, charters and resolutions,” which led to “the spread of the Israeli occupation and the destabilization of the region's security and stability.”
He then referred to Lebanon, Syria and Iran as being “repeatedly attacked by Israeli occupation forces.”
“We reaffirmed full support for all contributions of the GCC countries to the stability of the region, including the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the efforts aimed at recognizing the State of Palestine within the framework of the international coalition to implement the two-state solution, in addition to hosting the joint Arab-Islamic follow-up summit,” the Kuwaiti Emir said.
He also commended Qatar, Egypt, and the US for their mediation efforts in achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon as a step toward deescalation.
The Emir then reaffirmed his call to Iraq to rectify the legal status of the agreement regulating maritime navigation in Khor Abdullah, resume the meetings of the technical teams associated with it, and return to work in accordance with the 2008 Security Exchange Protocol.
“Additionally, we urge the resumption of meetings of the joint legal technical teams to complete the demarcation of the Kuwaiti-Iraqi maritime borders beyond boundary point number 162 in accordance with international law and UN’s Convention on 1982 Law of the Sea,” the Emir said
At the Gulf level, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad stressed that the 45th Gulf Summit is being held in extremely complex circumstances that requires the member states to accelerate the achievement of economic integration.
“This necessitates accelerating our efforts to achieve GCC economic integration through unified policies, diversification of non-traditional income sources, facilitation of trade and investment, and support for local industries,” he said.
“It is also vital to expand innovation and entrepreneurship, especially in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), to enhance the competitiveness of our economies regionally and globally,” the Emir added.