SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia, South Africa call for joint efforts to combat terrorism

July 13, 2018



JEDDAH – Saudi Arabia and South Africa stressed the necessity of exerting more joint efforts to combat terrorism and extremism in all its forms and manifestations, the need to respect the sovereignty of states and non-interference in their internal affairs, in a Saudi-South African joint statement, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said Friday.

They emphasized the need to stand firmly against any actions by any country to destabilize the countries of the Middle East in general and the Gulf region in particular.

In this regard, the President of South Africa highly commended the efforts being exerted by the Kingdom in combating terrorism, extremist ideology and the rejection of sectarianism, the latest of which was the establishment of the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology "Etidal" in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, at the invitation of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, was on a two-day state visit to the Kingdom as part of the promotion of bilateral relations between the two countries.

King Salman held fruitful and constructive talks with Ramaphosa during which they exchanged views on ways of developing bilateral relations and intensifying cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic, cultural, military and security fields.

They reviewed the growing relations between the two countries and confirmed the importance of strengthening common action and expanding the bilateral relations between them in all fields to broader prospects.

They also stressed the need for more cooperation and efforts to increase trade exchange between them, increase the joint investments in economic projects and infrastructure and provide facilities and incentives for these investments to be in line with the aspirations of the two countries and the two peoples.

Moreover, the two sides reviewed regional and international issues of common interest and the latest developments in the Middle East and the world. They stressed the importance of reaching a comprehensive, lasting and just solution to the Palestinian cause in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy so as to ensure the Palestinian people's restoration of their legitimate rights, including the establishment of an independent State with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The two sides also stressed the importance of preserving the unity of Yemen, achieving its security and stability as well as the importance of the political solution to this crisis on the basis of the Gulf initiative, its executive mechanism, the outcomes of the Yemeni national dialogue and the Security Council resolution 2216.

They confirmed their support for the legitimate authority in Yemen, the efforts being exerted in this area and facilitating access of aid to the Yemeni regions as a whole. They stressed their condemnation of targeting the Kingdom by Houthi terrorist militias by launching ballistic missiles on its territories in addition to their condemnation of Houthi militias’ actions that threaten the security and safety of maritime navigation in the Red Sea.

Regarding the Syrian crisis, the two sides stressed the importance of reaching a political solution to the conflict in Syria in accordance with Geneva Declaration 1 and Security Council Resolution 2254 to end the suffering of the Syrian people as well as preserve Syria's unity and territorial integrity. They emphasized the importance of facilitating access of humanitarian aid and relief work for Syrian refugees in Syria and beyond.

The two sides expressed their support for the efforts of the Iraqi government to unify the internal front to combat terrorism, which represents a threat to all Iraqis, maintaining Iraq's unity and territorial integrity and the importance of stopping foreign interference in Iraqi internal affairs.

On the Lebanese issue, they stressed the importance of supporting the Lebanese State and disarming all terrorist organizations.

At the conclusion of the talks, Ramaphosa expressed his profound gratitude and appreciation for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to him and the accompanying delegation during his visit to the Kingdom.

President Ramaphosa and his accompanying delegation paid a visit on Friday to the historical old city of Jeddah, accompanied by the Minister of Commerce and Investment, Dr. Majid Bin Abdullah Al-Qassabi; the Minister of Finance Muhammad Bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan and the Minister of State for African Affairs Ahmed Qattan. Ramaphosa toured the city and a number of its historical sites.

In a related development, Ramaphosa stressed the necessity for further cooperation to increase trade between his country and the Kingdom; to enhance joint investments in economic projects and infrastructure, aside from providing facilities and incentives for these investments in line with the aspirations of both countries and peoples.

This came during his speech at the Saudi-South African Business Meeting, organized in Jeddah on Thursday by the Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC) in the presence of the Minister of Commerce and Investment Dr. Majid Bin Abdullah Al-Qassabi; the Minister of Finance Muhammad Abdullah Al-Jadaan; CSC President Dr. Sami Bin Abdullah Al-Obaidi; a number of chambers’ officials and Saudi businessmen.

"I was impressed by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the extent of its great research development and I was happy to find that a number of its professors and students are from South Africa," he said.

He also expressed sincere thanks to King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, while wishing to see Saudi businessmen invest in South Africa with more cooperation between businessmen in both countries.

Al-Qassabi, in his speech, welcomed President Ramaphosa and the accompanying delegation and stressed the depth of relations between the two countries in various fields and that the development is continuing between the two countries.

Later on Friday, Ramaphosa left Jeddah. At King Abdulaziz International Airport, he was seen off by Prince Mishal Bin Majid, governor of Jeddah, Saudi Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa Gharm Bin Saeed Al-Mulhan, and a number of officials. – SPA


July 13, 2018
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