Saudi-led operation in Yemen ‘not seeking a war’

April 7, 2015

Riyadh, Apr 7: The Council of Ministers on Monday said that the Saudi-led operation in Yemen has the support of Yemenis in the Kingdom and the international community because it seeks to restore the legitimate government and bring peace and stability to that war-torn nation.

The weekly meeting was chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.

Coalition war

It noted the heroic efforts of the coalition forces in neutralizing the military capacity of the Houthi militants, said Minister of Culture and Information Adel Al-Toraifi.

Saudi Arabia appreciates the support of the Yemeni community for Operation Decisive Storm.

The ministers said the coalition does not seek a war but wants to protect the Yemeni people.

This is why the operation has been hailed by Arab and Islamic nations, and the wide international community, said Al-Toraifi.

The Cabinet also expressed hope that the nuclear framework agreement struck with Iran in Lausanne, Switzerland, recently would ensure the safety and security of the region.

It said the Kingdom and the Arab League support nations wanting to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in line with the standards and procedures of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The aim would be to create a region free of all weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, said Al-Toraifi.

The Cabinet stressed that the security in the region requires a commitment to the principles of good neighborliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries.

The ministers also welcomed the announcement of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that it formally accepted the State of Palestine as a full member.

They believe that Palestine’s accession to the ICC would help restore the rights of the Palestinians.

According to Al-Toraifi, the Council of Ministers again called on the international community to end the “Syrian tragedy which has become a humanitarian catastrophe.”

The meeting was inaugurated by Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, emir of Kuwait, who said the Kingdom has spared no effort in providing assistance to Syrian refugees. He said Saudi aid to the Syrian people since 2011 has exceeded $600 million.

The Council of Ministers welcomed the announcement by Moody’s credit rating agency to rank the Kingdom at a high Aa3, and the Fitch credit rating of AA, which both foresee a stable future for the Kingdom.

This was a result of the Kingdom’s economic policies, which has enabled it to counter global financial crises, the Cabinet said.

The Cabinet also condemned the terrorist attack that targeted the University of Garissa, in Kenya, and expressed its condolences to the government and people of Kenya, and the families of the victims.

King Salman briefed the Cabinet on the results of his talks with various leaders who visited Saudi Arabia recently, including the Senegal president, and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The king also received various calls, including from the US president, and leaders of Sudan, India, Afghanistan and Britain.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
Agencies
July 16,2020

Riyadh, Jul 16: Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saud bin Naif, minister of interior and chairman of the Hajj Supreme Committee, chaired a virtual meeting on Wednesday with the heads of  security agencies and officials in charge of this year’s Hajj season.

During the meeting, the minister and security officials discussed organizational issues related to Hajj, including preventive and precautionary steps related to fighting the coronavirus disease, procedures related to pilgrims commuting to the holy sites, and mechanisms to facilitate performing the Hajj rituals.

Prince Abdul Aziz confirmed abiding by the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to take all precautions to preserve the safety of the pilgrims, and facilitate their performance of their Hajj rituals, according to the highest health standards to contain the new coronavirus pandemic.

Saudi Arabia has decided to allow only a limited number of domestic pilgrims to perform Hajj this year in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Only those expatriates between the ages of 20 and 50 who are not suffering from any chronic diseases can apply for the pilgrimage.

Earlier, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that requests from people of 160 nationalities in the Kingdom have been screened electronically to select who will perform Hajj this year.

Of the pilgrims who will receive approval, 70 percent will be non-Saudis residing in the Kingdom and the remaining 30 percent will be Saudi citizens.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior said that anyone found entering the sites of Hajj (Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat) without a permit from July 18 till the end of Dhu Al-Hijjah 12 will be issued with a fine of SR10,000 ($2,600).

The fine will be doubled if the offence is repeated. Security personnel will be posted on roads leading to the holy sites to ensure that anyone who breaks the law will be stopped and fined.

Around 2.5 million foreign and domestic pilgrims performed Hajj last year.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
April 29,2020

Dubai, Apr 29: Saudi Arabia reported 1,325 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 21,402, the Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday (April 28).

Meanwhile, the ministry reported 169 recoveries today, with total recoveries in the kingdom at 2,953. There are 125 cases in intensive care.

The ministry also confirmed 5 deaths, bringing the total number of deaths in the kingdom to 157.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
March 25,2020

Riyadh, Mar 25: A 46-year-old man died of coronavirus in Saudi Arabia, becoming the Kingdom’s second death, according to a health ministry’s spokesman.

The health ministry recorded 133 new infections, bringing the total to 900.

Of those newly confirmed cases, 18 are associated with recent travel, and were placed in quarantine upon their arrival in the Kingdom, the spokesman said.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.