Guterres Calls on Developed Countries to Fulfill Promise, Support Developing Nations

A memorial photo of the leaders of the countries participating in the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Doha (Reuters)
A memorial photo of the leaders of the countries participating in the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Doha (Reuters)
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Guterres Calls on Developed Countries to Fulfill Promise, Support Developing Nations

A memorial photo of the leaders of the countries participating in the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Doha (Reuters)
A memorial photo of the leaders of the countries participating in the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Doha (Reuters)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stressed the need to reform the global financial system and urged international financial institutions to devise ways to provide financing. He also urged developed countries to provide support to vulnerable nations to raise their ability to confront and adapt to climate change and allow a smooth transition to renewable energy.

To provide the necessary support, Guterres urged developed countries to fulfil their $100 billion promise to developing countries.

Speaking at the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries, known as LDC5, taking place in the Qatar capital from 5 to 9 March, Guterres announced that he will host a Climate Ambition Summit at UN Headquarters in September to move from words to action and “to deliver climate justice to those on the frontlines of the crisis”.

The anticipated summit will offer an opportunity for international solidarity in confronting climate change and provide financial and technical support to ensure the transition of emerging economies to renewable energy sources.

Guterres stressed that LDCs are stuck in a wave of crises, uncertainty, climate chaos and historical global injustice, and are unable to catch up with the rapid technological changes.

Systems employed in LDCs are stretched or non-existent – from health and education to social protection, infrastructure, and job creation, noted the UN chief.

He said that the global financial system, created by wealthy countries to serve their own interests, is extremely unfair to LDCs, who must pay interest rates that can be eight times higher than those in developed countries.

“Today, 25 developing economies are spending over 20% of government revenues solely on servicing debt,” said Guterres.

In the face of such deep challenges, the UN chief stated that the LDCs “need a revolution of support” across three key areas.

The three areas mentioned by Guterres include immediate aid to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provide an incentive package for the SDGs, and provide at least $500 billion annually to developing countries.

For his part, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, affirmed that there is a shared global responsibility in facing the challenges of food security, climate change, the energy crisis, and the debt crisis.

The Gulf State leader reiterated the need for international solidarity in combating crises worldwide.

“There is a moral obligation incumbent upon the rich and developed countries to contribute more to assist the least developed countries to overcome the global challenges we are now dealing with,” the Emir noted.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stressed the need to reform the global financial system and urged international financial institutions to devise ways to provide financing. He also urged developed countries to provide support to vulnerable nations to raise their ability to confront and adapt to climate change and allow a smooth transition to renewable energy.

To provide the necessary support, Guterres urged developed countries to fulfil their $100 billion promise to developing countries.

Speaking at the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries, known as LDC5, taking place in the Qatar capital from 5 to 9 March, Guterres announced that he will host a Climate Ambition Summit at UN Headquarters in September to move from words to action and “to deliver climate justice to those on the frontlines of the crisis”.

The anticipated summit will offer an opportunity for international solidarity in confronting climate change and provide financial and technical support to ensure the transition of emerging economies to renewable energy sources.

Guterres stressed that LDCs are stuck in a wave of crises, uncertainty, climate chaos and historical global injustice, and are unable to catch up with the rapid technological changes.

Systems employed in LDCs are stretched or non-existent – from health and education to social protection, infrastructure, and job creation, noted the UN chief.

He said that the global financial system, created by wealthy countries to serve their own interests, is extremely unfair to LDCs, who must pay interest rates that can be eight times higher than those in developed countries.

“Today, 25 developing economies are spending over 20% of government revenues solely on servicing debt,” said Guterres.

In the face of such deep challenges, the UN chief stated that the LDCs “need a revolution of support” across three key areas.

The three areas mentioned by Guterres include immediate aid to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provide an incentive package for the SDGs, and provide at least $500 billion annually to developing countries.

For his part, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, affirmed that there is a shared global responsibility in facing the challenges of food security, climate change, the energy crisis, and the debt crisis.

The Gulf State leader reiterated the need for international solidarity in combating crises worldwide.

“There is a moral obligation incumbent upon the rich and developed countries to contribute more to assist the least developed countries to overcome the global challenges we are now dealing with,” the Emir noted.



Iran FM Receives Heads of Trilateral Committee Delegation in Tehran 

Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi receives the heads of the delegations of the joint trilateral committee in Tehran on Tuesday. (SPA)
Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi receives the heads of the delegations of the joint trilateral committee in Tehran on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Iran FM Receives Heads of Trilateral Committee Delegation in Tehran 

Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi receives the heads of the delegations of the joint trilateral committee in Tehran on Tuesday. (SPA)
Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi receives the heads of the delegations of the joint trilateral committee in Tehran on Tuesday. (SPA)

Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi received in Tehran on Tuesday the heads of the delegations of the joint trilateral committee tasked with following up on the 2023 Beijing Agreement.

The Saudi delegation is led by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and China’s delegation is headed by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Miao Deyu.

The officials discussed ways to boost cooperation and reviewed issues of mutual interest.

The commitee had met in Tehran earlier on Tuesday with the parties saying they look forward to expanding economic and political cooperation, as well as in other fields.

They also underlined the importance of dialogue and regional cooperation to bolster security, stability, peace and economic prosperity.

Saudi Arabia, Iran and China called for an end to Israeli attacks on Palestine, Lebanon and Syria. They condemned Israel’s attacks against Iran and the violation of its sovereignty.

Saudi Arabia and Iran stressed their commitment to implementing all articles of the 2023 Beijing Agreement, saying they seek to bolster good neighborliness between them.


Mohammed bin Salman, Sharaa Discuss Syria’s Economic Recovery 

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
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Mohammed bin Salman, Sharaa Discuss Syria’s Economic Recovery 

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held telephone talks on Tuesday with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

The leaders reviewed bilateral relations between their countries and opportunities to strengthen cooperation across several fields.

They tackled issues of mutual interest and the efforts aimed at promoting security and stability and supporting economic recovery in Syria.


Saudi FM, Rubio Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
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Saudi FM, Rubio Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held telephone talks on Tuesday on regional and international developments.

The State Department said they discussed the developments in Yemen and the pressing need to advance peace efforts in Sudan.

Rubio welcomed the outcomes of the visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the United States in November.

The visit, he said, “underscored the strength of the Saudi-US partnership.”