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Saudi Govt Renews Support to Political Efforts to Resolve Russia-Ukraine Crisis

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt Renews Support to Political Efforts to Resolve Russia-Ukraine Crisis

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. (SPA)

The Saudi government reiterated on Tuesday the Kingdom’s support to finding a political solution to the crisis between Russia and Ukraine.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the cabinet meeting that was held at the al-Salam Palace in Jeddah.

The cabinet stressed that the Kingdom will also continue with its humanitarian efforts to help ease the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

It praised the cooperation of the Russian and Ukrainian governments with the mediation, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to release prisoners from various nationalities last week.

The mediation is part of his efforts in adopting humanitarian initiatives, it stressed.

The ministers were briefed on the various talks held by Saudi officials with world leaders and envoys that tackled the latest international developments over the past week. They also reviewed the latest regional developments.

The ministers reviewed Saudi Arabia’s participation at the 77th United Nations General Assembly and the several meetings its officials held on its sidelines.

The meetings reflected the Kingdom’s keenness on supporting and bolstering joint international work and cooperation to confront global challenges and taking the initiatives to help establish a more peaceful and just world to shape a promising future to peoples and coming generations.

The cabinet underscored the statement issued by the International Quartet on Yemen that condemned the Iran-backed Houthi militias for their military reinforcements and attacks in Yemen that are undermining the ongoing nationwide truce.

The Quartet stressed its full support to the efforts of United Nations envoy Hans Grundberg to extend and expand the truce and ensure its full implementation.

The cabinet highlighted the Kingdom’s remarks during the general debate of the 51st session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, stressing the importance of promoting a culture of dialogue, cooperation, tolerance and respect for noble values and other cultures. The Kingdom believes that this diversity is key to achieving prosperity and sustainable development for all peoples of the world.

On domestic affairs, the cabinet commended the attention paid by the state to the programs and strategies of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, especially with regard to the housing needs of citizens and the quality of services provided to them.

It noted efforts to continue to facilitate and increase home ownership rates to reach the target of 70% by 2030, to improve the quality of municipal services, the urban landscape and develop infrastructure, and optimize the use of natural and water resources.

The cabinet hailed the Kingdom's topping of G20 countries in international tourist arrivals during the first seven months of 2022. Saudi Arabia witnessed a rise of 121% compared to the same period in 2019, revealed the latest reports by the World Tourism Organization.

The cabinet said the achievement is a continuation of the qualitative leaps in the tourism sector, which provides job opportunities for citizens, and represents a cultural bridge to communicate with the world.

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Gulf

Saudi Crown Prince Receives Calls from Turkish, Lebanese and German Leaders Condemning Houthi Attacks

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Calls from Turkish, Lebanese and German Leaders Condemning Houthi Attacks

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (SPA)

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman received phone calls Tuesday from Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during which the leaders condemned the Houthi attacks targeting the Kingdom and affirmed their solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the face of threats to its security and stability.

During the call, Merz expressed Germany's condemnation of the terrorist Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, which threaten the Kingdom's security and stability, reaffirming his country's support and solidarity with the Kingdom.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral cooperation and ways to strengthen it across several fields.

For his part, the Lebanese president condemned the attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and its vital facilities and threatening its security and stability. He reaffirmed Lebanon's full solidarity with the Kingdom and its support in confronting anything that could undermine its security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Turkish president, meanwhile, strongly condemned the Houthi attacks targeting Saudi territory, expressing his sorrow and condolences over the victims of the attacks. He reaffirmed Türkiye's support for the Kingdom in the period ahead and expressed confidence in its ability to overcome these challenges.

Gulf

Coalition Urges Civilians to Evacuate Yemen Petroleum Company Station in Sanaa

Coalition Urges Civilians to Evacuate Yemen Petroleum Company Station in Sanaa
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Coalition Urges Civilians to Evacuate Yemen Petroleum Company Station in Sanaa

Coalition Urges Civilians to Evacuate Yemen Petroleum Company Station in Sanaa

Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki stated that the Joint Coalition Forces Command called on civilians, for their own safety, to evacuate the Yemen Petroleum Company's Al-Sabaha Central Station in Sanaa.

The Coalition announced earlier on Tuesday that it would issue the warning ahead of a targeted operation, adding that details of the warning would be announced later.

The announcement comes as the coalition intercepted and destroyed three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) north of Riyadh, SPA reported.

The warning is expected to identify the targeted site and call on civilians to evacuate and stay away from the area for their safety.

Gulf

Qatar’s Emir: Protecting the Stability of GCC Countries is a Shared Responsibility

FILED - 02 October 2024, Qatar, Doha: FILE PHOTO - Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani speaks during a press conference in Doha. Photo: -/Iranian Presidency/dpa
FILED - 02 October 2024, Qatar, Doha: FILE PHOTO - Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani speaks during a press conference in Doha. Photo: -/Iranian Presidency/dpa
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Qatar’s Emir: Protecting the Stability of GCC Countries is a Shared Responsibility

FILED - 02 October 2024, Qatar, Doha: FILE PHOTO - Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani speaks during a press conference in Doha. Photo: -/Iranian Presidency/dpa
FILED - 02 October 2024, Qatar, Doha: FILE PHOTO - Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani speaks during a press conference in Doha. Photo: -/Iranian Presidency/dpa

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Tuesday called for closer security coordination among Gulf countries. He also called for stepped-up efforts to secure maritime routes in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and energy infrastructure.

Speaking to the Shura Council, the Emir said that his country had been “attacked on its territory by Iran, in a blatant violation of its sovereignty, the provisions of international law, and the principles of good-neighborly relations,” stressing that the armed forces and security agencies had carried out their duty to defend the country.

He emphasized that Qatar would not abandon its approach based on dialogue and negotiation, but would not hesitate to protect its sovereignty, saying: “Our commitment to dialogue and peaceful solutions does not mean compromising the defense of our country, just as our right to defend our sovereignty does not conflict with our determination to prevent the war from expanding.”

He said recent events had demonstrated the interconnected nature of regional and global security and the impossibility of isolating the repercussions of conflicts from the global economy and international stability.

He stressed the need for continued cooperation and coordination among the Gulf Cooperation Council states, noting that protecting the sovereignty and stability of GCC countries is a shared responsibility. He added that Qatar would continue working with its regional and international partners to preserve security in the region.

He explained that Qatar had confronted the crisis through a four-track strategy: defending the country without being drawn into war; ensuring the continuity of services, supply chains, and economic activity; contributing to efforts to achieve a ceasefire and reopen waterways; and pushing for the resumption of negotiations and the achievement of peaceful settlements.

On the economy, the Emir revealed that a significant portion of the country’s exports had been disrupted as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the direct damage sustained by some energy facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City.

He noted that Qatar supplies around one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas (LNG), meaning that any disruption to its exports has a direct impact on energy markets and consumers worldwide.

He explained that the repercussions of the crisis were concentrated primarily in the energy sector, while non-hydrocarbon sectors continued to grow, accounting for around 80 percent of real gross domestic product, according to figures presented in his speech.

He also revealed that total public revenues fell by 42 percent during the first half of the year, while expenditures declined by 14 percent, stressing that the government had decided not to reduce essential services or alter its development priorities despite the financial pressures.

He said the state had confronted the crisis by relying on earlier policies that included strengthening financial reserves, reducing public debt, and developing non-oil revenues. At the same time, he called for continued fiscal discipline and greater efficiency in public spending.

The Emir announced projects and investment opportunities valued at approximately 221 billion Qatari riyals (about $60.7 billion) over the next five years. These include infrastructure projects and public-private partnerships, as well as investments in real estate and hospitality.

He noted that the Qatari economy recorded real growth of 2.9 percent in 2025, while average inflation remained stable at 0.5 percent. The country also posted a current account surplus and maintained its high sovereign credit ratings.

The Qatari Emir also accused Israel of committing crimes in the Gaza Strip that constitute “genocide.” He called for holding Israeli officials accountable.