Saudi Gazette report
United Nations — The sovereignty of Saudi Arabia is a “red line” and the Kingdom will not accept foreign interference in its internal affairs, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said on Friday.
Addressing the UN General Assembly’s 73rd session in New York City, he said the Kingdom’s foreign policy is based on finding permanent peaceful solutions to disputes, preventing escalation, and on mediation efforts.
The peace agreement that was signed in Jeddah between Ethiopia and Eritrea under the auspices of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and historic meeting between the leaders of Eritrea and Djibouti after 10 years are a testament to the responsible political role that the Kingdom plays to promote international peace and security, Jubeir said.
He said terrorism and extremism are among the most important challenges facing the entire world. He renewed the call to intensify international cooperation to eliminate all forms of terrorism and to drain its sources of funding, and to punish those who support it and feed its activities in any way.
Jubeir said, “Iran continues its terrorist activities and aggressive behavior. Saudi Arabia supports the new US strategy to deal with Iran, including seriousness in dealing with its nuclear program, the ballistic missile program, and its support for terrorism.
“Saudi Arabia believes that achieving peace and stability in the Middle East requires deterrence of Iran’s expansionist and destructive policies. Iran has formed armed terrorist militias, supplied them with ballistic missiles, assassinated diplomats, attacked diplomatic missions, incited sectarian strife and intervened in the affairs of the countries of the region. This aggressive behavior constitutes a flagrant violation of all international conventions and treaties, and Security Council resolutions, which has made Iran vulnerable to international sanctions.”
Jubeir said the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist militias continue to fire Iranian-manufactured ballistic missiles toward Saudi cities and involved in destabilizing activities affecting the security and safety of maritime navigation in Bab Al-Mandeb area and the Red Sea.
“My country reaffirms its commitment to the importance of a political solution to the situation in Yemen based on the three references: the Gulf Initiative, the outcome of the Yemeni national dialogue, and Security Council resolution 2216.
We will continue to provide and facilitate all humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of Yemeni people. We will continue to support the Yemeni economy, the latest of which is a deposit of $2 billion to the Central Bank of Yemen ordered by King Salman bringing the total humanitarian support provided by the Kingdom over the past four years to Yemen to more than $13 billion.”
Jubeir said Qatar’s activities had made the Arab boycott against it an unavoidable choice. “The Qatar boycott is part of the efforts made by Saudi Arabia and its allies to combat terrorism,” he said.
He added: “We renew our call to intensify international cooperation to combat terrorism ... Saudi Arabia believes that achieving peace in the Middle East requires the deterrence of Iran.
Jubeir said the Palestinian issue remains the pivotal cause for Saudi Arabia and the Islamic world.
Speaking on domestic progress, Jubeir said that the Saudi government has made humans the center of development and opened the doors of the future for its citizens through its Vision 2030 program.
He stressed that empowering women to have fulfilling opportunities was the goal of the Saudi government, adding that the Kingdom’s message is based on the hope for future generations to live in peace.
Iran must be reined in to achieve Mideast peace: Jubeir
