On the Iranian nuclear file, Prince Saud Al-Faisal called on countries of (5
+1) to seek achieving compatibility firstly between Iran and Arab countries,
rather than circumvent the interests of the countries in the region to
entice Iran with gains that cannot be reaped unless it cooperated with the
region's countries.
Minister of Foreign Affairs delivers speech at Majlis Al-Shura
http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/print.php?id=1344605
Riyadh, Jumada II 11, 1436, March 31, 2015, SPA -- Prince Saud Al-Faisal,
Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has
spared no effort along with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States
and effective international parties in serious and sincere work to reach a
peaceful solution to defeat the conspiracy against Yemen, solve its
problems, and return to the stage of construction and development rather
than bloodshed, affirming the continuation of Determination Storm to defend
the legitimacy in Yemen until it achieves its objectives and Yemen returns
safe, stable and united.
This came in a speech delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs when he
attended the 26th ordinary session of Majlis Al-Shura held here today under
the chairmanship of the Council's Speaker Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed
bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, at the request of the Council.
Prince Saud al-Faisal said, ' The Houthi militia and agents of the former
president - supported by Iran - insist to meddle in Yemen, re-shuffle the
cards, rob the Yemeni will, make a coup against the constitutional
legitimacy, and reject all peaceful solutions under the force of looted
weapons in a policy drifted Yemen into great seditions and warns of great
ominous dangers.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs said, 'We are not warmongers, but if war's
drums are beaten, we are ready for them. The security of Yemen is part and
parcel of the security of the Kingdom and the Gulf and the Arab national
security and how if the distress came from a neighboring country and
distressed people and a legitimate leadership, appealing for stopping the
tampering with the destiny of Yemen, and seeking to maintain its legitimacy,
national unity, territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty. Based
on this logic, the coalition to defend the legitimacy of Yemen enjoyed wide
blessing and comprehensive support from our Arab and Islamic nation and the
world.'
He described the situation in Syria as a tragedy that exceeded all political
ambitions and goals. He said, 'The Syrian tragedy has surpassed all limits,
and has become a disgrace to all those failing to support the stricken
people. The number of the killed has almost reached as many as half a
million including the undeclared ones, and the displaced and refugees are
more than 11 million people.'
On Iraq, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said: 'Baghdad has suffered at the
hands of a bunch of its sons driven by external parties gasping for
spreading discord, division and rivalry, and they are not desisting from
committing crimes, spreading hatred and instilling hatred in Al-Rashid
capital and the crossroads of civilizations'.
He said he was optimist when the new Iraqi government was formed, especially
when it announced its intention and determination to rebuild Iraq on
national bases with the contribution of all Iraqis, without exclusion due to
the doctrine, sect or race, in addition to its commitment to the eradication
of terrorism and ending all forms of armed militias.
He added: This positive trend had our full support, as reflected in the
pursuit of the development of the relationship and startup of re-opening the
Saudi Embassy in Baghdad, in addition to the active participation in the
international coalition to fight terrorist ISIS organization.
He said, 'We are facing a horrendous tragedy exceeding all political
ambitions and goals. There is a humanitarian disaster not seen in modern
history; Unfortunately, its victim is a dear Arab country whose
infrastructure is destroyed, and whose people are killed relentlessly and
mercilessly by a sinful hand that is supposed to protect them and preserve
their interests.'
The Minister of Foreign Affairs said, 'The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which
realizes the size of the pain and suffering of the Syrian people, stands -
as leadership and people - behind every possible effort to revive the Arab
and international conscience to put an end to this humanitarian disaster,
through pushing for a solution based on the principles of the Geneva 1
Declaration which calls for the formation of a transitional governing body
with wide political, security and military powers and in which Al-Assad and
those whose hands were stained with the blood of Syrians shall not have any
role, with the pursuit of a military balance on the ground to force the
butcher of Damascus to respond to a peaceful solution in light of his
insistence on the military option, which devastated the country and
displaced the people so that peace can return to this dear part of our Arab
nation and its people can build the glory of Damascus which is at the
forefront of the glory of the Orient.'
With regard to relations' file with the Islamic Republic of Iran, Prince
Saud Al-Faisal said: 'We were pleased when the Iranian revolution called it
the Islamic Revolution, for we were expecting it will be a champion of Arab
and Islamic causes, and helpful for us in the Islamic nation's service, and
the consolidation of security and stability in the region, but we were
surprised by the policy of exporting the revolution and destabilizing
security and peace as well as the blatant interference in the affairs of the
region's countries and stirring up discord among peoples of the same faith,
and this trend has raised our many questions about the nature of the
interest that Iran would win by dividing the Arab and Muslim world, and its
attempts to push them into the abyss with no way out.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs added: Today, we are not going to condemn or
discharge Iran, but we will test its intentions, by extending our hands to
it as a Muslim neighbor in order to open a new page, and if we may have the
right to consider Iran as a country of civilization - and we do - it should,
out of its duty, be a builder of a civilization promoting security and peace
in the region and not destabilizing them.
He further said that 'Iran as a Muslim country, the Book of Allah and the
Sunnah of His Messenger, the Prophet (peace be upon him), should be of its
duty to serve Islamic causes and not dispersing them, and Iran should
realize that the call for Islamic solidarity will remain and it is more
useful to Iran is to take part in this trend rather than what it calls for
the export of revolution.'
On the Iranian nuclear file, Prince Saud Al-Faisal called on countries of (5
+1) to seek achieving compatibility firstly between Iran and Arab countries,
rather than circumvent the interests of the countries in the region to
entice Iran with gains that cannot be reaped unless it cooperated with the
region's countries.
Reiterating the Kingdom's stance towards the Palestinian cause, he stated
that it constitutes the core of the Kingdom's foreign policy, a stance based
on the endeavor to realize just, lasting and comprehensive peace, which is
the crucial point of the Arab-sponsored Peace Initiative propsed by the
Kingdom and since, adopted by the Arab League.
He emphasized the constant pillars of the Saudi foreign policy, in harmony
with Sharia principles, as the first and foremost, defending Arab and
Islamic causes, serving international security and peace, abiding by the
rules of international law, treaties, charters and cherishing them, as well
as building friendly relations to serve mutual interests with other
countries, in the world, based on mutual respect and non-interferrence in
the internal affairs, in the context of serving motherland's interests,
maintaining and preserving its territorial integrity, stability and
development, taking care of its nationals' interests and promoting the
Kingdom's high stature and status in the world.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs drew the attention to the Kingdom's foreign
policy, stating that it is keen to, seriously, develop joint action
mechanisms, either through calling for the GCC Union to enable the group's
member states to face regional and international challenges, alike, not to
mention contributing to reform the Arab League, consolidating the role of
the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the call for upgrading UN
hierarchy and reforming the Security Council.
Work is being done in accordance with these constants, in the context of
realizing the foreign policy of the Kingdom, thus the ministry should cope
with the required changes and reinovation in mode and techniques of
performance laid upon it, to level up with the modern language and style, to
shoulder the great burdens and responsibilities assigned to it, in the
context of transformation witnessed, in the world, that changed the limited
conventional diplomacy among states and governments, into the so called
Comprehensive Diplomacy, he remarked.
Duly, the appartus of the ministry has been changed and, radically,
restructured, he said. The most significant change was done, pertaining the
Saudi woman in appreciation of their role, thus the number of female staff,
at the ministry, has sky-rocketed from only 60 female employees, in 2010 to
284 females, in 2014, an increase of more than four times.
The minister also briefed Al-Shura, in more details, on other organizational
restructuring of all apparatus of the ministry, in order to cope with the
new trend of shifting to the electronic government service.
In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Dr. Yahya
bin Abdullah Al-Samaan, Assistant Speaker of Majlis Al-Shura, said that the
Speaker of Majlis Al-Shura welcomed Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of
Foreign Affairs, at the outset of the session.
The Speaker of Majlis Al-Shura thanked Prince Saud Al-Faisal on accepting
the council's invitation for briefing the members on the political attitudes
and stances of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia towards various issues and the
latest developments in the region in addition to the ministry's plans.
'Upon directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin
Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and the Deputy Crown Prince, the foreign
policy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is appreciated internationally due to
its moderation and mutual respect. Based on its political and diplomatic
presence, the Kingdom has achieved great steps at various levels and the
Kingdom has an effective and influential role on the map of the Arab,
Islamic and international cooperation due to its membership in the Group of
Twenty and in many international organizations as well as its leading role
in the fight against terrorism, the global dialogue and enhancing principle
of peaceful coexistence,' Al Al-Sheikh added.
The Speaker of Majlis Al-Shura has lauded the efforts of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs' staff and Saudi Embassies abroad.
Dr. Al-Sheikh pointed out the existing cooperation between Majlis Al-Shura
and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Then, the Minister of Foreign Affairs answered questions of the council's
members.
In a reply to a question, Prince Saud Al-Faisal said that 'the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia is not going to push its land troops inside the Yemeni
territories. The Yemenis are able to carry out their responsibilities and
face Al-Houthi organization, especially in light of accession of many
military staff and civilians to the pro-legitimacy troops,' stressing that
the Yemenis are going to protect Yemen.
'The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has exceptional relationships with Yemen
and realizes its responsibilities towards supporting the Yemeni development,
renaissance, prosperity and stability,' Prince Saud Al-Faisal added.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs has hailed the Kingdom's developed level in
combating terrorism, pointing out that the Kingdom has achieved an advanced
rank in exchanging information among countries, stressing that the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia has became a reliable source in this field.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the ministry has launched
several programs to develop work in the Kingdom's embassies abroad and
rehabilitation of the ministry's employees in order to ensure providing
better services to the
citizens and beneficiaries, pointing out that the services are not reached
to the perfect level but they are improved.
Regarding the Kingdom's assistance abroad, Prince Saud Al-Faisal confirmed
that the Kingdom has adopted a new approach based on participation in
providing the aid to the needy countries, adding that the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs has recently approved a new mechanism ensuring access of the
assistance to the citizens of the beneficiary countries.
Prince Saud Al-Faisal stressed that the Kingdom's foreign policy is based on
the service of Islam and Muslims and the diplomatic efforts are in this
direction, pointing out the Kingdom's respect of the states' internal
affairs and its non-interference in the affairs of others. Prince Saud
Al-Faisal confirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will always support
goodness and peace.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs replied to all questions of Majlis
Al-Shura's members with full transparency and clarity.
The session was attended by Prince Turki Al-Faisal; Prince Abdulaziz bin
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Nizar bin
Obaid Madani, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Prince Dr. Turki bin
Mohammed bin Saud Al-Kabeer, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Ministry for
Multilateral Relations and a number of princes and senior officials.
--SPA
21:14 LOCAL TIME 18:14 GMT
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