Region has a choice of two paths says Blinken, one of war and aggression, the other of peace

Region has a choice of two paths says Blinken, one of war and aggression, the other of peace
During his opening remarks, Secretary Blinken expressed that the meeting serves as an opportunity to advance efforts to promote greater stability in this region. (Photos/X: @KSAmofaEN)
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Updated 30 April 2024
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Region has a choice of two paths says Blinken, one of war and aggression, the other of peace

Region has a choice of two paths says Blinken, one of war and aggression, the other of peace
  • In Riyadh, Blinken is expected to meet with senior Saudi leaders and hold a wider meeting with counterparts from five Arab states

RIYADH: Secretary Anthony Blinken said the Middle East region had two paths moving forward, one of violence and permanent insecurity, the other intergration and and greater peace.

Speaking in Riyadh at a joint US-Gulf Cooperation Council ministerial meeting to advance coordination on regional security on Monday, Blinken said he believed most in the region wanted to follow the path of peace.

“There really are two paths forward for the region as a whole. One driven with division with destruction, with violence with permanent insecurity. The other, greater integration, greater security, greater peace,” Secretary Anthony Blinken said.

“ I think the region today shows that many more of us want to pursue that affirmative path, and I’m grateful to our colleagues in the GCC for working in partnership to advance in that direction,” he added.

During his opening remarks, Secretary Blinken expressed that the meeting serves as an opportunity to advance efforts to promote greater stability in this region.

Blinken arrived in Riyadh Monday morning as a part of a 3-day visit from April 29-May 1 to meet with regional partners.

The secretary highlighted that in the upcoming days as he travels to Jordan and Palestine he will meet with humanitarian groups and the Israeli governemnt to discuss the developments in Gaza.

During his remarks Secretary Blinken highlighted the current U.S. interventions such as the increased value of aid delivered to Gaza and the building of the US maritime corridor.

“It is not enough we still need to get more aid in and around Gaza,” he explained.  

During his speech, Blinken underlines that the U.S. will continue to work with its GCC partners to “build just and lasting peace.”

“We are focused on addressing the greatest threat to regional stability and regional security, Iran,”

“ This is the first meeting since Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel, The first direct attack from Iran to Israel with more than 300 projectiles including over 100 holistic missiles," Blinken explained.  

Blinken underlined that the attacks from Iran stress the importance of working together in integrated defense.

He highlighted that this will be the discussion topic in the upcoming US-GCC meeting in a few weeks on integrated air, militry defense and maritime security.

The other discussion topic underlined by Blinken was the “ ways to preserve freedom of navigation in the Red Sea,”

“The Houthi attacks not only undermine security but they undermine the lives and livelihoods of people throughout the region including in Yeman, the very people they profess they want to represent, The cost of goods have gone up, and it’s harder to get things into Yemen, to the north we’re people so desperately need it,”

“This needs to stop and we are being resolute in doing everything we can to put a stop to it,” Blinken sid.

During his opening remarks, the GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and called for an international conference on implementing a two-state solution.

He also underlined the need for effective international measures to end the violence in the West Bank.

He also expressed the importance of ensuring the security of relief corridors for the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Al-Budaiwi emphasized that the continuous escalation between Iran and Israel threatens the security and stability of the region.

The GCC Secretary General also expressed concern over the Houthi attacks on the Red Sea.

Following his visit to the Kingdom, Blinken will be meeting with counterparts in Jordan and Palestine.

As a part of his visit, the secretary will discuss various topics including the ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza that secures the release of hostages.

Other topics in the meetings will include humanitarian aid to Gaza, limiting the spillover of conflict and ongoing efforts to achieve regional security.

A pathway to an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel will also be one of the topics of discussion during his visit.

On the sidelines of the meeting, The Saudi Minister of foreign affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Secretary Blinken. The two discussed the developments in the Gaza Strip, the importance of a ceasefire, efforts to ensure entry of urgent humanitarian aid, and joint efforts.


Henan University boosts academic ties with visit to KAU

Henan University boosts academic ties with visit to KAU
Updated 6 sec ago
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Henan University boosts academic ties with visit to KAU

Henan University boosts academic ties with visit to KAU
  • Delegation met KAU’s Acting Vice President Prof. Hana Abdullah Al-Nuaim to discuss strategies for joint initiatives in research, training and education
  • Visiting delegation commending KAU’s state-of-the-art research and training capabilities

JEDDAH: A delegation from Henan University in China visited King Abdulaziz University, or KAU, in Jeddah on Wednesday to explore opportunities for strengthening academic collaboration.

During their visit, the delegation met KAU’s Acting Vice President Prof. Hana Abdullah Al-Nuaim, to discuss strategies for joint initiatives in research, training and education.

The Chinese delegation toured several facilities at KAU, including the King Faisal Convention Center, the Central Library and the Sports Village. Their visit also included the Chinese Culture and Science Institute, a bridge for cultural and knowledge exchange between the Kingdom and China.

The visiting delegation expressed their admiration for the academic standards of KAU, commending its state-of-the-art research and training capabilities.

They underscored the importance of the visit in deepening academic collaboration between the two universities and facilitating the exchange of expertise and knowledge across academic and research domains.


Saudi reforms have ‘reinforced unwavering principles of justice, equality,’ says HRC president

Saudi reforms have ‘reinforced unwavering principles of justice, equality,’ says HRC president
Updated 3 min 22 sec ago
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Saudi reforms have ‘reinforced unwavering principles of justice, equality,’ says HRC president

Saudi reforms have ‘reinforced unwavering principles of justice, equality,’ says HRC president
  • Since Vision 2030 launched, Kingdom has ‘witnessed unprecedented openness’: Hala bint Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri
  • ‘Number of women serving as chairpersons or vice-chairpersons of boards reached 327, and the number of women board members reached 1005,’ delegation says

GENEVA: Saudi Arabia has implemented sustained reforms that have reinforced its unwavering principles of justice and equality, the president of the Kingdom’s Human Rights Commission said on Wednesday.
Since the launch of Vision 2030, the Kingdom has “witnessed unprecedented openness to diverse races, cultures and religions,” said Hala bint Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri.
She is heading the Kingdom’s delegation to the 114th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Tuwaijri said: “The Kingdom’s territory is now home to over 13 million residents of more than 60 nationalities, constituting over 40 percent of the population.”
She added that these residents enjoy equal rights and protection from racial discrimination.
The HRC chief highlighted the issuance and amendment of regulations promoting protection from discrimination.
She said that national policy to encourage equal opportunities and treatment in employment and occupation is a key initiative to eliminate labor market discrimination.
Al-Tuwaijri highlighted national policy to prevent child labor. She also pointed to the establishment of labor courts as a qualitative advancement in the realm of labor justice.
The late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman established the Kingdom on the bedrock principles of justice, equality and the rejection of racism and discrimination, she said.
Under the Saudi leadership, a contemporary interpretation of these steadfast principles has led to the development of a comprehensive legislative, institutional and judicial framework to combat racism and racial discrimination, she added.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Saudi delegation to the CERD session said that many regulations and bylaws in the Kingdom have been amended to achieve equality between men and women.
These include the Travel Documents Law, Civil Status Law, Labor Law and Social Insurance Law.
As a result, by the third quarter of 2024, women’s participation in the labor market reached 35.4 percent, with a change rate of 108 percent since 2017, surpassing Vision 2030 targets, the statement said.
“The number of women serving as chairpersons or vice-chairpersons of boards reached 327, and the number of women board members reached 1005. Women held 43.8 percent of mid and senior management positions in the private sector.
“The number of female ambassadors abroad stood at six, with 204 female diplomats and 246 women working in international institutions abroad,” the statement said.


Saudi interior minister, Algerian president hold meeting

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz met Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Algiers
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz met Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Algiers
Updated 19 min 49 sec ago
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Saudi interior minister, Algerian president hold meeting

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz met Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Algiers

RIYADH: Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz met Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Thursday.

During the meeting at the presidential palace in Algiers, they reviewed Saudi-Algerian relations and security cooperation between the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Abdulaziz passed on the best wishes of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and expressed hope for Algeria's “continued success and prosperity.”


Saudi Arabia, Brazil partner on space technology

Saudi Arabia, Brazil partner on space technology
Updated 28 November 2024
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Saudi Arabia, Brazil partner on space technology

Saudi Arabia, Brazil partner on space technology
  • Scheme will promote the sustainable use of orbital resources and enable the use of modern technologies in space data analysis
  • Forms part of the commission’s efforts to enhance international partnerships and leverage its expertise in communications, space and technology

RIYADH: The Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission has launched an initiative for a research study in space sustainability in collaboration with Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency.

It is the result of a previous agreement between the two parties.

The scheme will promote the sustainable use of orbital resources and enable the use of modern technologies in space data analysis.

It was launched on the platform of the 2024 International Forum on Non-Terrestrial Networks, where Mohammed bin Saud Al-Tamimi, governor of the commission, invited the international community to take part and support research on space sustainability for the benefit of future generations.

The scheme is part of the commission’s efforts to enhance international partnerships and leverage its expertise in communications, space and technology.


Saudi FM meets with GCC ministers ahead of Supreme Council session in Kuwait

Saudi FM meets with GCC ministers ahead of Supreme Council session in Kuwait
Updated 28 November 2024
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Saudi FM meets with GCC ministers ahead of Supreme Council session in Kuwait

Saudi FM meets with GCC ministers ahead of Supreme Council session in Kuwait
  • Israeli military campaign in Gaza, ceasefire in Lebanon is discussed during a preparatory GCC ministerial meeting
  • Saudi ambassador to Kuwait attended meeting

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan took part on Thursday in a preparatory ministerial meeting ahead of a GCC Supreme Council session due to take place in Kuwait on Sunday.

The meeting was chaired by Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Faisal discussed with his counterparts the latest developments in regional and international issues, including the Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip, achieving a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue and the ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon.

The GCC ministers also discussed the progress in implementing the decisions agreed upon during the former 44th session of the GCC Supreme Council, as well as dialogue and strategic cooperation among GCC members and international organizations.

Prince Sultan bin Saad, Saudi ambassador to Kuwait; Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, Saudi undersecretary of multilateral international affairs; Mohammed Al-Yahya, an adviser to Prince Faisal; Walid Al-Samaeel, the director-general of Prince Faisal’s office; and Anas Al-Wassidi, the director of the GCC department in the Foreign Ministry, attended the meeting.

Prince Faisal will attend on Sunday the 45th session of the GCC Supreme Council in Kuwait City. The session will include leaders and top officials from GCC countries, including Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain.

Earlier on Thursday, Prince Faisal was received at Kuwait International Airport by his Kuwaiti counterpart; Prince Sultan; and the secretary general of the GCC, Jasem Al-Budaiwi.