Al-Jubeir and Kerry discuss JASTA fallout on mutual ties

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday discussed with his Saudi counterpart Adel Al-Jubeir ways to “fix” the US Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, known as JASTA, to limit its repercussions on US relations with its partners. “We discussed ways to try to fix this in a way that respects and honors the needs and rights of 9/11 victims, but at the same time does not expose American troops and American individuals who may be involved in another country to the potential of losses,” Kerry said in a joint press conference in Washington. JASTA grants an exception to the legal principle of sovereign immunity in cases of terrorism on US soil, clearing the way for lawsuits seeking damages from the Saudi government. On Yemen, the Saudi foreign minister said his country reserves the right to protect its borders and citizens, stressing the Kingdom’s commitment to maintain its cessation of fire. “I want to emphasize that we have a right to defend ourselves, we have a right to protect our borders, we have a right to protect our citizens and we have to ensure that the other side maintains its commitment to the cessation of hostilities,” Al-Jubeir said. Kerry stressed the importance of Houthis’ commitment to a ceasefire. Al-Jubeir said discussions with Kerry also involved the situation in the Iraqi city of Mosul and Libya. — Agencies