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Gulf

King Salman: Saudi Arabia Spares No Effort in Providing Comfort, Safety to Two Holy Mosques' Guests

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques chairs the cabinet session (SPA)
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques chairs the cabinet session (SPA)
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King Salman: Saudi Arabia Spares No Effort in Providing Comfort, Safety to Two Holy Mosques' Guests

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques chairs the cabinet session (SPA)
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques chairs the cabinet session (SPA)

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, affirmed that Saudi Arabia spares no effort in ensuring comfort and safety for the guests of the Two Holy Mosques, including pilgrims, Umrah performers, and visitors.

King Salman asserted that the Kingdom provides all services from the guests' arrival to perform their rituals until they leave for their home countries safely.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addressed citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia and Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan 1444 AH.

King Salman said in a tweet: "Tonight we receive the Holy Month, which is the most sacred of months, and we praise Allah we reached Ramadan, asking Allah to make it a month of goodness, blessing, and peace for our people, our nation, and all the peoples of the world."

In a speech delivered by the Minister of Media, Salman al-Dosari, the Custodian congratulated all Muslims on the occasion of the blessed month, thanking God Almighty that "we reached this holy month, the month of the Quran, mercy, forgiveness, and release from hell. We ask Allah Almighty to help us to fast, pray, and to guide us to do good deeds."

"We thank Allah Almighty for the numerous blessings, including that Allah Almighty has honored us with this blessed country, the place of revelation and Qibla for Muslims and serving the Two Holy Mosques' guests, including pilgrims, visitors, and Umrah performers."

The King asserted that Saudi Arabia spares no effort in providing means of comfort and safety for them. It takes care of delivering all services from their arrival in this blessed country to perform their rituals until they leave for their home countries safely.

The monarch indicated that Ramadan month is a blessed season in which good deeds are multiplied, saying it is an opportunity to seize good deeds, uphold kinship ties, and purify souls.

"I ask Allah Almighty, on this blessed night, to help us seize Ramadan's days and nights in good obedience to Him, perpetuate success for us, and protect our country and the whole world from every evil."

Meanwhile, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman exchanged congratulations and blessings with the leaders of Islamic countries, praying to God Almighty to accept everyone's good deeds and restore this blessed occasion to the Islamic nation with progress and prosperity.

Earlier, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques arrived in Jeddah coming from Riyadh.

Upon his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport, the King was received by Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region.

King Salman was accompanied by Prince Khalid bin Fahd bin Khalid, Prince Mansour bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Prince Khalid bin Saad bin Fahd, Prince Sattam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Adviser to the Custodian Prince Abdulaziz bin Sattam bin Abdulaziz, and several senior officials from the Royal Court.

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Gulf

Saudi, Swedish FMs Stress Importance of Intensifying Int’l Efforts to End Regional Escalation

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Swedish counterpart Maria Malmer Stenergard meet in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Swedish counterpart Maria Malmer Stenergard meet in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi, Swedish FMs Stress Importance of Intensifying Int’l Efforts to End Regional Escalation

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Swedish counterpart Maria Malmer Stenergard meet in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Swedish counterpart Maria Malmer Stenergard meet in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received in Riyadh on Tuesday his Swedish counterpart Maria Malmer Stenergard for talks on regional developments.

They underlined the importance of intensifying international efforts to de-escalate tensions to preserve regional peace and stability.

They FMs also tackled the bilateral relations between their countries and ways to bolster them in various fields.

Stenergard stressed Sweden’s condemnation of the Iranian attacks in the region, expressing its solidarity with the affected countries and the need for navigation to return to normal in the Strait of Hormuz.

The ministers also reviewed the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

Also on Tuesday, Prince Faisal received a telephone call from his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty to discuss regional developments.

They underscored the importance of intensifying efforts to de-escalate tensions in a manner that preserves regional peace and security.

Gulf

Swedish FM to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Stand in Full Solidarity with Saudi amid these Difficult Times

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. (Turky Al-Agili)
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. (Turky Al-Agili)
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Swedish FM to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Stand in Full Solidarity with Saudi amid these Difficult Times

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. (Turky Al-Agili)
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. (Turky Al-Agili)

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard stressed her country’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia amid the difficult conditions in the region, adding that the Kingdom was a “highly valued partner and interlocutor on regional and global issues”.

In an interview to Asharq Al-Awsat, she said: “I have long planned to visit Saudi Arabia and I am very pleased to finally be here. It is important for me to be able to personally convey my government’s sincere support and solidarity with Saudi Arabia in current difficult times.”

“We commend the Kingdom’s resilience and commitment to support dialogue and peaceful solutions. Sweden and Saudi Arabia share a joint interest in global peace and stability within a rules-based international order. During my discussion with Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, I have also been able to outline Sweden’s approach to major international conflicts, including our strong support to Ukraine,” she added.

“I also wanted to meet with additional representatives in the very diverse group of Swedish or ‘Swede-tech’ companies present in Saudi Arabia, such as Envac, Getinge, TetraPak and Hitachi Energy. I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for their contribution to the impressive development of Saudi Arabia and for being excellent ambassadors of Sweden’s spirit of innovation and building a better future,” she continued.

On Saudi-Swedish relations and aspects of cooperation, Stenergard said: “Swedish- Saudi relations are excellent and ever-expanding. Saudi Arabia has for a long time been one of Sweden’s largest trading partners in the MENA region. Swedish companies, like Ericsson and ABB, have been present in the Saudi market since the 1950’s and 60’s and continue to bring jobs to Saudis across the Kingdom.”

US-Israel war on Iran

On the US-Israel war on Iran, she said: “Sweden views the situation with great concern. Sweden’s position is clear: we urge all parties to continue talks and pursue a diplomatic solution.”

“There is a strong global urge and interest that these efforts, as soon as possible, lead to sustainable peace. Any final arrangement must address key concerns, such free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons and that Iran does not pose a threat to regional and international security,” she stated.

On whether Sweden would be involved in ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait, she replied: “Sweden is engaged in efforts to uphold freedom of navigation in the region, such as the French British initiative, together with Saudi Arabia.”

“We continue to assess how Sweden can best contribute. As a member of the European Union, Sweden contributes to the EU led Operation Aspides in the Red Sea, which aims to safeguard maritime security and ensure continued freedom of navigation through key waterways such as the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait,” Stenergard went on to say.

NATO summit

Asked about the outcomes of the recent NATO summit in Sweden, she told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Sweden is happy to have hosted a productive meeting of the NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Helsingborg. The meeting was an important milestone on the road to the NATO Summit in Ankara.”

“We are pleased that Sweden could facilitate a meeting that allowed for open and constructive discussions. Hosting our first NATO meeting at ministerial level is an expression of Sweden’s ambition to be an active and constructive NATO ally,” she added.

Lebanon-Israel negotiations

Turning to the future of the Israeli and Lebanese negotiations, she stressed that she was “deeply concerned about the situation on the ground, including the large-scale demolition of villages in southern Lebanon, and the very large number of internally displaced people.”

“The Swedish position is clear: the ceasefire must be respected and talks on a long-term solution need to continue. Israel must withdraw from Lebanese territory and respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” she demanded.

“At the same time, a sustainable peace requires the disarmament of Hezbollah, in line with UN Security Council resolutions and decisions by the Lebanese government. There can only be a diplomatic solution to this conflict,” she said.

Gulf

Oman, Kuwait Support Stability, Dialogue to Tackle Regional Challenges

Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah sign the MoU during their meeting on Monday. (ONA)
Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah sign the MoU during their meeting on Monday. (ONA)
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Oman, Kuwait Support Stability, Dialogue to Tackle Regional Challenges

Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah sign the MoU during their meeting on Monday. (ONA)
Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah sign the MoU during their meeting on Monday. (ONA)

Oman and Kuwait stressed on Monday the importance of maintaining coordination and consultations, bolstering security and stability, and supporting dialogue and diplomacy to tackle challenges in the region.

The countries held the 11th session of the Oman-Kuwait Joint Committee in Al Jabal Al Akhdar in Oman. It was chaired by Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah.

The meeting addressed the deep-rooted fraternal relations between their countries. The officials discussed ways to boost bilateral cooperation in a number of fields to serve common interests, in translation of the aspirations of the wise leaderships of Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, reported Oman’s state news agency ONA.

Al Busaidi said that the meeting was held in implementation of the supreme directives of the leaderships of the two countries, calling for deepening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic, commercial, cultural, and scientific fields, and exchanging expertise to achieve greater integration and partnership between Oman and Kuwait.

He pointed out that the regular convening of the joint committee reflects the attention and care it receives from the leaderships of both countries, and embodies the joint commitment to strengthening its role as an effective institutional framework to propel cooperative relations toward more advanced and comprehensive levels.

For his part, Sheikh Jarrah stressed that the two countries' celebration this year of the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations reflects the development and growth of their ties.

The FMs said that Omani-Kuwaiti relations are a model of sincere fraternal bonds among the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

They signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of cybersecurity, and an executive program in the field of standardization.