by Mohammed Saud

Okaz/Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The United Kingdom (UK) Ambassador Neil Crompton has stressed the importance of the peace initiative launched by Saudi Arabia a few days ago to resolve the Yemeni crisis, as it clarifies the Saudi position on several issues, such as the ceasefire and the possibility of reopening Sanaa Airport and Hodeidah Seaport, while calling on the international community to exert pressure on the Houthis to participate in the peace process.

In an interview with Okaz, he said: "We have a security partnership with Saudi Arabia, and we are helping it to exercise its right to defend itself against Houthi attacks. We know that these weapons come from Iran, which supports the Houthis."

He pointed out that the Saudi people are friendly and generous, and proud of their country and its traditions. At the same time, they love to travel and are interested in the outside world, and learn from others’ experiences, adding, "And I am happy to be with them."

Ambassador Crompton stressed that the relations between Britain and Saudi Arabia are strong and historic, and have witnessed development in recent years.

In addition, the British government supports the Kingdom's Vision 2030, and the exchange is continuing between the British and Saudi people, as evidenced by the presence of 18,000 Saudi students studying in Britain, and 20,000 Britons working in the Kingdom.

As to living with the coronavirus pandemic in Saudi Arabia, he said: “We in the embassy feel safe in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the measures taken by the government from the very start were firm and serious, and the number of cases in the Kingdom is much less than in a large number of countries in the world.”

He added: "Because of the measures taken by the government, life has become like normal, people go to the shops, and with precautions we can play sports."

"My son traveled last November and found life here simpler than life in London, and we are grateful to the Saudi authorities."

He said: “Tourist places in Saudi Arabia are beautiful and have a variety of historical significance, for example AlUla is beautiful, and Madain Saleh is historically interesting, and in Jeddah there are historical places and markets that are of interest to foreigners.

“At the same time, the Red Sea is clean and beautiful, and it has different places. After coronavirus, the Kingdom will become an important place for tourists from Britain, and they can see different things.”