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Gulf

Bahrain to Announce Initiatives for Fresh Start in Joint Arab Action

The Crown Prince of Bahrain receives the foreign ministers of Arab countries participating in the preparatory meeting for the Arab Summit. (SPA)
The Crown Prince of Bahrain receives the foreign ministers of Arab countries participating in the preparatory meeting for the Arab Summit. (SPA)
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Bahrain to Announce Initiatives for Fresh Start in Joint Arab Action

The Crown Prince of Bahrain receives the foreign ministers of Arab countries participating in the preparatory meeting for the Arab Summit. (SPA)
The Crown Prince of Bahrain receives the foreign ministers of Arab countries participating in the preparatory meeting for the Arab Summit. (SPA)

A senior Bahraini official said that the Bahrain Declaration, which will be issued Thursday at the conclusion of the 33rd Arab Summit, will express a unified Arab position toward many Arab files, mainly the Palestinian issue.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Ambassador Ahmed Al-Tarifi, Head of Arab and African Affairs at the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Manama will announce, on the sidelines of the summit, a set of initiatives that will constitute a new beginning for joint Arab action.

He noted that the Bahraini Foreign Minister, Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Zayani, undertook a tour to Arab capitals, to coordinate with his counterparts on the Bahrain Declaration, saying the summit will express “the unified Arab position” towards the current developments in the Arab world.

“In addition, a number of initiatives will be launched by the Kingdom of Bahrain, which will constitute a new beginning in joint Arab action,” he remarked.

The Bahraini official pointed to challenges facing the Arab world, foremost of which is the Palestinian file and the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the rest of the Palestinian territories. He also spoke about other problems, including the situation in Sudan and Libya, and food security in the Arab world, stressing that all these issues will be discussed by the Arab leaders on Thursday.

Asked about Bahrain’s initiative to host an international conference on the Palestinian cause and the two-state solution, the Director of Arab and African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Manama is “determined to host an international peace conference that addresses the Palestinian issue and the two-state solution, within the framework of ongoing Arab and international effort in this regard.”

He added: “We saw one of the outcomes of this endeavor, last week in the United Nations General Assembly when Palestine received the votes of 143 countries. This is an Arab diplomatic success that reflects the results of joint Arab influence.”

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Gulf

KSrelief, WHO Sign Joint Program to Treat Children with Acute Malnutrition in Yemen

The program is part of Saudi Arabia's efforts, represented by KSrelief, to strengthen cooperation and strategic partnership with WHO. SPA
The program is part of Saudi Arabia's efforts, represented by KSrelief, to strengthen cooperation and strategic partnership with WHO. SPA
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KSrelief, WHO Sign Joint Program to Treat Children with Acute Malnutrition in Yemen

The program is part of Saudi Arabia's efforts, represented by KSrelief, to strengthen cooperation and strategic partnership with WHO. SPA
The program is part of Saudi Arabia's efforts, represented by KSrelief, to strengthen cooperation and strategic partnership with WHO. SPA

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has signed a joint executive program with the World Health Organization (WHO) to purchase and distribute therapeutic response packages for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition across 35 nutritional care centers in Yemen.

On the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the program was signed on Monday by Adviser at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of KSrelief Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The program is part of Saudi Arabia's efforts, represented by KSrelief, to strengthen cooperation and strategic partnership with WHO to provide medicines, essential equipment, and specialized treatment for children suffering from acute malnutrition in countries in need.

Dr. Al Rabeeah and Ghebreyesus also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and coordinate efforts in health and humanitarian relief, and reviewed progress on joint projects supporting the most vulnerable populations worldwide.

Tedros praised Saudi Arabia's humanitarian and medical work through KSrelief, highlighting the center's pivotal role in supporting healthcare systems and its swift response to health crises and emergencies in countries in need.

Gulf

Faisal bin Farhan Discusses Gaza, Regional Developments in New York Meetings

The Saudi Foreign Minister participates in the coordination meeting of the foreign ministers of the Group of Eight Arab-Islamic States (SPA)
The Saudi Foreign Minister participates in the coordination meeting of the foreign ministers of the Group of Eight Arab-Islamic States (SPA)
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Faisal bin Farhan Discusses Gaza, Regional Developments in New York Meetings

The Saudi Foreign Minister participates in the coordination meeting of the foreign ministers of the Group of Eight Arab-Islamic States (SPA)
The Saudi Foreign Minister participates in the coordination meeting of the foreign ministers of the Group of Eight Arab-Islamic States (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah has participated in a coordination meeting of the foreign ministers of the Group of Eight Arab-Islamic States in New York.

Monday’s meeting - held on the sidelines of the High-level Week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly - addressed the grave deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the escalating violations in the West Bank.

The ministers also discussed ways to unify efforts and positions to mobilize international support for protecting the Palestinian people and advancing their just cause in international forums.

Prince Faisal also took part in the sixth meeting of the Regional Quartet Foreign Ministers, which was also attended by Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Dr. Badr Abdelatty, and Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan.

The Saudi Foreign Minister participates in the sixth meeting of the Regional Quartet Foreign Ministers in New York (SPA)

The meeting addressed regional developments and ways to strengthen coordination and cooperation among the group's member states to help reduce tensions in the region, emphasizing the importance of intensifying diplomatic efforts to limit the repercussions of regional crises and preserve security and stability.

Prince Faisal also met separately with the Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

The meeting reviewed the close ties of cooperation between the two countries and discussed the latest regional developments and efforts to contain tensions through diplomatic solutions.

After the meeting, the two ministers signed a mutual exemption agreement from short-stay visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and special passports, aimed at facilitating procedures, strengthening coordination, and expanding areas of cooperation between the two countries.

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs also participated in the ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and Switzerland.

The Saudi Foreign Minister participates in the ministerial meeting between Gulf countries and Switzerland (SPA)

The meeting addressed topics and issues of mutual interest, and reviewed areas of cooperation and coordination between the GCC states and Switzerland and ways to strengthen them in service of shared interests.

A similar ministerial meeting between the GCC states and France was also held.

The Foreign Minister participates in the ministerial meeting between the GCC states and France (SPA)

The talks, which were attended by Prince Faisal, addressed regional developments and their implications for security and stability in the region, as well as areas of cooperation and coordination between the GCC states and France in addressing current challenges.

The meeting also reviewed key topics and issues of mutual interest on the UN General Assembly agenda.

Gulf

GCC Stresses Importance of Elevating Ties with France

Gulf and French officials are seen at the meeting in New York. (GCC)
Gulf and French officials are seen at the meeting in New York. (GCC)
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GCC Stresses Importance of Elevating Ties with France

Gulf and French officials are seen at the meeting in New York. (GCC)
Gulf and French officials are seen at the meeting in New York. (GCC)

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi stressed on Monday that relations between the Gulf states and France are built on a solid strategic partnership, as well as shared interests and visions.

He highlighted the importance of continued efforts to elevate these relations and expand their scope to serve mutual interests, contributing to the support of security, stability, and peace both regionally and globally.

This came during a joint ministerial meeting between the GCC and France, co-chaired by Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani, Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Jean-Noel Barrot, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with the attendance and participation of the GCC foreign ministers, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Albudaiwi noted that the meeting comes amid highly sensitive circumstances in the region, pointing to the Iranian attacks targeting vital installations and diplomatic premises that Gulf states have faced since February 28, despite these countries not being a party to the war and having exerted tireless efforts to mediate and contain the escalation.

He stressed the position of the Gulf states calling for ensuring the security and safety of waterways and freedom of international navigation, stressing the need to commit to Security Council Resolution 2817, the return of navigation in the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb to its status prior to February 28, and the rejection of imposing any unilateral fees or conditions on the right of passage.

Albudaiwi commended France's position rejecting the attacks on Gulf countries, as well as its participation in international efforts aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

On the Palestinian cause, he reaffirmed its centrality, as well as the need to end the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to the Arab Peace Initiative and international resolutions.

Albudaiwi said the partnership between the GCC and France extends beyond addressing current challenges to building a shared vision for a more secure, stable, and prosperous future.

The mutual interests, visions, and political will binding the two sides form a solid foundation for expanding cooperation in political, security, economic, investment, and technological fields, as well as energy, defense, and education, he remarked.

The GCC views France as an important strategic partner, both at the level of Gulf-French and Gulf-European relations, praising Paris' role in supporting and strengthening that partnership, he went on to say.

He said Gulf countries were looking forward to the second Gulf-European Summit, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia on October 24. It will mark an important milestone to elevate this partnership and achieve tangible results in priority areas for both sides.

Albudaiwi underscored the strength of economic relations between the two sides, noting that the volume of trade exchange between the GCC and France has exceeded 60 billion euros, reflecting the promising opportunities and potential these relations possess to boost trade, investment, and cooperation in priority sectors.