https://arab.news/5r5bz
Saudi Minister of the State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir met EU Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders in Brussels on Wednesday. They discussed a number of issues of common interest, in addition to fields of cooperation between the Kingdom and EU.
Al-Jubeir also met EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa Alexander Rondos. They reviewed the latest regional and international developments.
The minister recently addressed the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, which devoted a special session on relations between the Kingdom and EU.
Al-Jubeir said that the Kingdom wanted to face the region’s challenges from Palestine to Iraq, through Iran’s activities, the situation in Yemen, the Horn of Africa, Afghanistan, Syria, and more.
He added that the Kingdom wanted to also focus on its internal growth, work on the success of the Vision 2030 reform plan, reduce dependence on oil, establish an advanced educational system, combat extremism, establish a tolerant society and provide opportunities for young people.
“We want to make the Kingdom stable, prosperous and less vulnerable to the instability of its neighbors,” he said.
The Kingdom had succeeded in achieving important achievements for women and empowering them with rights, he added.
“We want to put an end to extremism and to put in place a tolerant regime, and for the world to see our society as a modern and tolerant society. We check the results of our policy, as there has been an increase in foreign investment and an increase in the number of foreign companies operating in the Kingdom, which reflects actual confidence in the reform process.”
Al-Jubeir also spoke about Qatar, saying it supported the financing of extremist groups such as Hezbollah, and that the country interfered in Saudi Arabia’s affairs.
He added: “The Qataris must change their behavior, and the Kingdom has worked to preserve, as much as possible, the functioning of the Gulf Cooperation Council.”
Al-Jubeir turned his attention to Turkey as well, calling it an important country that the Kingdom had “serious economic relations with” but that it interfered in Syria’s and Libya’s affairs. “We hope to continue relations with it and to be a responsible member that contributes to stability.”