New Saudi ambassador optimistic about Saudi-US ties, says Riyadh at forefront of fighting terror

US President Donald Trump (L) with Prince Khaled bin Salman, the new Saudi ambassador to US. (SPA)
Updated 09 August 2017
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New Saudi ambassador optimistic about Saudi-US ties, says Riyadh at forefront of fighting terror

JEDDAH: A huge improvement is witnessed in the Saudi-US relationship under the Trump administration, said the new Saudi ambassador to the US Prince Khaled bin Salman who recently presented his credentials to President Trump.
“I think that President Trump is determined to work with his allies in the region to counter Iranian expansionism and terrorism,” the envoy said in an interview with the Washington Post.
Addressing the Qatari crisis which has erupted in the region during the last two months, the Saudi prince said that Qatar’s policies are endangering the region’s national security. “I think Qatar’s policies have been a threat to our national security, especially when they interfere in our domestic politics and support extremists. In Syria, they have supported Al-Qaeda affiliates and some terrorist [Shiite] militias in Iraq,” he added hoping Qatar will stop funding extremism.
Prince Khaled rejected all claims made against his country regarding its support for extreme groups in Syria and said Saudi Arabia is “on the frontline of fighting terrorism,” whereas terror in Qatar is “government-funded.”
The interview also included Syria and its factions, where the prince confirmed that there are some moderate opposition groups such as the Free Syrian Army. “There are a lot of people in Syria who want to free themselves from the dictatorship of Bashar Assad. We are working with our allies to help stabilize Syria,” he said.
According to the Saudi envoy, more than 500,000 Syrians have been killed in the war. He affirmed that Riyadh and Washington are working together to put an end to the Syrian conflict, expressing his support of rid Syria of Assad altogether.
Prince Khaled, who is son of the current Saudi king and the brother of the new crown prince, denied the rumors surrounding his brother’s promotion. “I think His Highness (Mohammed) bin Nayef did an incredible job at counterterrorism. The king made the decision, supported by the Allegiance Council. Prince bin Nayef is in Saudi Arabia and is receiving guests,” he said slamming all allegations made against his brother about eyeing his cousin’s position forcing him out of his way to the throne. “We now have a dynamic young leadership, determined to push the country forward and to diversify our economy.”

 

Saudi Arabia is moving in the right direction in terms of human rights, said the envoy. “The last two years have been a time of big change in our country. Human rights have been moving forward, women’s rights have been moving forward. Saudi youth have been given a chance to play a part in our future,” he added.
The wise Saudi leadership recognizes the vital and essential role women are playing in the country’s future as it “can’t move forward without half of our population.”
Once agains, Saudi Arabia stood its ground regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict affirming that his country wants “to solve it (the issue) through the Arab peace initiative, and if Israel recognizes Palestine based on the 1967 borders, the Arab world has agreed to do so.”
As for the Sunni-Shiite conflict in Iraq, the prince insisted Iraqis to be treated equally in order not to lead to the creation of another bloody spring. “Sectarianism always leads to terrorism. The Sunnis and [Shiites] have to be treated equally as Iraqi citizens,” he added. “Iran wants Iraq to obey Iran. We support the independence of Iraq.”
The prince agreed that Daesh is a threat to Saudis and Muslims in general and need to be defeated in any way possible. “As Muslims, we in Saudi Arabia need to do whatever it takes to end this once and for all.”
As complicated as many people in the west think, Saudi Arabia did not start the war against Houthis in Yemen, denied the prince. “They started to march to the capital and take over Yemen before the Yemeni government asked Saudi Arabia to intervene and stop this attack,” he explained. The ball is [now] in the Houthis’ court. They have to drop their weapons and become part of Yemen, not part of Iran.”
Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz is part of its dangerous scheme in the region. Prince Khaled said the Iranian threat is concerning the entire world, not only Saudi Arabia. ”The Strait of Hormuz is important not just to our economy but to the international economy,” he said.
He added that US and its allies do realize the size of the Iranian threat to international security. “We are ready to work together to contain Iranian actions and expansionist policies,” he said.
September 11 attacks also took part of the interview, where the Saudi envoy renewed his country’s rejection of all false claims associating it with the attack. “We had nothing to do with 9/11. In 1996, Osama Bin Laden issued a declaration of war against the United States and Saudi Arabia. In 1994, we took away Bin Laden’s Saudi citizenship when he was in Sudan,” Prince Khaled told the Washington Post. “We think the same people who attacked the United States on 9/11 attacked us in Saudi Arabia multiple times.”
He said that Al-Qaeda had a plan in placing 15 Saudis among the attackers as they wanted to “create a split between Saudi Arabia and the United States.”


Saudi Arabia advocates for global cooperation to end hunger, ensure food security

Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti speaking at the A World Without Hunger
Updated 6 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia advocates for global cooperation to end hunger, ensure food security

  • Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti says agriculure is agriculture is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development
  • He was speaking at the A World Without Hunger” conference in Addis Ababa

RIYADH: The Kingdom sees agriculture as a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development and supporting economic growth, Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti said this week.

Al-Mushaiti led the Saudi delegation to the three-day “A World Without Hunger” conference that began on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

During his conference speech, Al-Mushaiti said that agriculture also played a key role in job creation and prosperity for local communities. This came through the strengthening of farmer support systems and the promotion of modern agricultural practices to increase production and improve efficiency, ultimately achieving food security.

“The significant progress made in science, innovation and modern technologies has contributed to addressing many urgent global food challenges,” Al-Mushaiti said. “However, the advancement achieved in enhancing food security remains insufficient. This underscores the crucial importance of intensifying global efforts and activating policies to develop practical and effective solutions.”

The deputy minister said that direct food aid and humanitarian relief efforts had played a key role in providing short-term solutions to food insecurity in many countries. He said that the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center had implemented about 900 food security projects in 78 countries worldwide, reflecting the Kingdom’s humanitarian role and support for peoples facing severe conditions.

Al-Mushaiti said that boosting investment in the agriculture and food sectors had become paramount to building a world free of hunger. This could be achieved through adopting innovation and modern farming techniques, as well as providing flexible financing solutions to increase production and build resilience in agricultural and food systems.

“The Kingdom welcomes agricultural investments in all fields and offers incentives and support for investors globally,” Al-Mushaaiti said. “We seek to expand agricultural investment in countries with competitive advantages, abundant natural resources and growing markets, to leverage integrated agricultural capabilities and create more job opportunities toward achieving food security.”

Al-Mushaaiti stressed the need to strengthen multilateral international cooperation and engagement with global organizations, in addition to promoting fair trade in line with WTO standards. This, he said, would contribute to building a world free of hunger, alongside other essential steps such as exchanging best agricultural practices and technologies, expanding access to innovative financing, and enhancing infrastructure and social safety net programs.

Al-Mushaiti said that the Kingdom had taken several steps in this direction. This included launching programs and initiatives such as the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Program, which contributed to increasing the income of small-scale farmers and improving their living standards, and the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority“Monsha’at” Authority to support micro, small and medium enterprises in the sector, through financing, training and job opportunities, and other ambitious projects and programs that worked to support the agricultural sector and activate its contribution to achieving food security.

The “A World Without Hunger” conference was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the African Union Commission and the Ethiopian government, with the participation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, to discuss topics related to the agriculture, food production and technology sectors, as well as food security, finance, food safety, infrastructure and more.


Sudanese cultural festival begins at Suwaidi Park

Updated 08 November 2024
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Sudanese cultural festival begins at Suwaidi Park

RIYADH: A cultural festival at Suwaidi Park is inviting visitors to explore the rich heritage and traditions of Sudan.

Part of Riyadh Season, the event takes place until Nov. 17 and features Sudanese music, dancing, food and crafts.

Content creator Hamoud Waleed said cultural festivals played a key role in building connections and understanding.

“Events like this are very important because sometimes you can’t go to see their tradition and culture. But when these cultures come to us here … it lets us know more and more about other people, how they live, what their interests are, and how we can engage with them,” he said.

“When we talk about Sudanese culture, it’s beautiful and comes from a very old history and nice heritage, and when it comes to us, it lets us know more about it, and this is exactly what we are seeing here in Suwaidi Park.”

Sudanese nationals make up 6.1 percent of the Kingdom’s population, according to the Saudi Census, so such exhibitions are important in promoting mutual respect and harmony between communities.

Sudanese singer Youssef Khairy highlighted the diversity of his culture, explaining how sharing traditions strengthened bonds between different people.

“Music unites us all, regardless of colors, shapes, languages, religions, or ways of thinking,” he said. “I am here to represent Nubian music, Nubian heritage and the Nubian civilization.”

Live music and dance performances during the festival are bringing Sudanese heritage to life and offering audiences an authentic cultural experience.

Visitor Olaa Abdulnaaem said these, along with the lively atmosphere, and engaging children’s activities, were standout features for her.

Hiam Othman, a Sudanese attire designer, said the festival had significantly promoted her business. “Our products have been well-received, and they reflect our Sudanese culture,” she said.

Riyadh Season 2024 has already drawn 4 million visitors from around the world, according to Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. He believes the surge in attendance reflects a growing appetite for cultural exploration and new experiences.

The festival is part of the Global Harmony initiative by the Ministry of Media and the General Entertainment Authority, which is aligned with the goals of the Quality of Life Program. The scheme celebrates the Kingdom’s multicultural landscape by highlighting the lives, contributions and cultural integration of its residents.

In the coming weeks, Global Harmony will celebrate a variety of cultures. After the Sudanese festival there will be a Jordanian, Lebanese and Syrian event from Nov. 17-19, Bangladeshi from Nov. 20-23, and Egyptian from Nov. 24-30. 

Launched on Oct. 17, the initiative began with music and dance honoring the culture of Indian expatriates.


KSrelief delivers winter aid and dates to Yemen’s vulnerable

These packages form part of the emergency shelter project in Yemen. (SPA)
Updated 08 November 2024
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KSrelief delivers winter aid and dates to Yemen’s vulnerable

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has delivered dates and winter shelter to vulnerable people in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Thursday.

KSrelief’s volunteers distributed 100 winter bags in Thamud district, Hadhramaut governorate, for 600 individuals from 100 vulnerable families.

These packages form part of the emergency shelter project in Yemen. (SPA)

The aid is a part of the agency’s emergency shelter project in the country.

Meanwhile, 2,459 cartons of dates were delivered in Al-Wadi district, Marib governorate, for the benefit of 14,754 people.


KSrelief continues international relief efforts in Chad, Pakistan

Updated 08 November 2024
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KSrelief continues international relief efforts in Chad, Pakistan

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has delivered aid to people most in need in Chad and Pakistan, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

Some 201 food parcels, benefiting 1,206 people, were distributed in the village of Sharkaya, in Hajar Lamis province, as part of the 2024 Food Security Support Project in the Republic of Chad.

Aid has also been given to 10,500 vulnerable people in flood-affected areas of Pakistan as part of the fourth phase of KSrelief’s initiative to provide shelter materials and winter bags to the country.


Saudi agency KSrelief delivers food, hygiene kits in Syria

The aid is a part of KSrelief’s projects to support earthquake-affected people in northern Syria. (SPA)
Updated 08 November 2024
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Saudi agency KSrelief delivers food, hygiene kits in Syria

  • The aid is a part of KSrelief’s projects to support earthquake-affected people in northern Syria

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed food and hygiene kits to thousands of vulnerable people across Syria, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Thursday.

The agency’s volunteers delivered 750 food parcels and 750 hygiene kits in Al-Hasakah, Syria, benefiting 4,500 people.

The aid is a part of KSrelief’s projects to support earthquake-affected people in northern Syria. (SPA)

Meanwhile 745 Syrian families, comprising 2,652 people, in Al-Dana, Idlib governorate, received food and hygiene kits.

The aid is a part of KSrelief’s projects to support earthquake-affected people in northern Syria.