The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRELIEF) distributed yesterday 4,000 food baskets in the areas of Mashrah and Hadnan and villages surrounding them in the Yemeni Taiz Governorate. This comes within the distribution project of 100,000 food baskets to be sent to this area within the coming days.
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The Command of Forces of Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen announced today that 9 Saudi detainees were repatriated and 109 Yemeni citizens arrested in military operations near Saudi Arabia’s southern border were handed over within the framework of calm previously announced on March 8, 2016.
The Coalition welcomed the continuing state of calm within the framework of its application for the plan (Renewal of Hope), hoping the start of calm in conflict areas in the Republic of Yemen to pave the way for intensifying the arrival of relief materials for entire Yemeni territories and supporting the efforts being patronized by the United Nations to reach a political solution in accordance with the Security Council Resolution 2216.
The first meeting of the Islamic Military Alliance to combat terrorism was held in Riyadh today. Military chiefs from the member states vowed to “dry up terrorists’ resources.”
Brig. Gen. Ahmed Asiri, spokesman for the alliance, said the representatives of the 34-country Islamic alliance discussed a unified strategy to degrade terrorism. Ideological, media, financial and military aspects to combat terrorism were discussed.
“Today’s meeting is to put the foundation stone for the coalition,” he said. “Today we did not discuss any individual cases.” However, Gen. Asiri said “Saudi Arabia has presented a paper to follow the resources of terrorism funding.”
He also said the attendance of 39 Muslim nations, not all of which were members of the coalition, “sends a strong message on importance and nature of the alliance,” adding that such force is needed in the face of “ISIS recreating Muslims and Arabs to put them in confrontation with the world.”
Gen. Asiri emphasized that the coalition will work according to “international law and standards,” dismissing that any country would take a unilateral decision. “Sovereignty is respected,” he reiterated.
Saudi Arabia today strongly condemned and denounced the terrorist attack in the south of Baghdad. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom’s condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Iraq, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured and stressing the need for concerted efforts to combat and uproot this dangerous phenomenon.
As the dust settles on the deplorable terrorist attacks that struck Brussels last week, Belgium, Europe and the international community continue to grieve for those who fell victim to such mindless barbarism. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shares in this grief; we mourn the loss of the 32 victims of terrorism in Brussels. Our thoughts are with their families and with over 300 innocent people recovering from injury. These heinous and cowardly acts are an affront on the peaceful religion they claim to represent. Their aim is to spread hatred, divide society and pit neighbours against each other. We must not allow this to happen.
On the contrary, now is the time for communities, societies and international actors to stand united in the face of this threat in order to put a stop to further mindless bloodshed. Through closer international cooperation and the promotion of intercultural dialogue, we must strive to rid our planet of this scourge that is devoted to sowing mistrust and fear.
Saudi Arabia has consistently made its position clear: we condemn terrorism in all its forms. These are not empty words. Actions are required to counter this very real threat. Saudi Arabia too has fallen victim to attacks that sought to destabilize the country and terrorize Saudi citizens. As such, the Kingdom has taken steps to combat extremism, regardless of the perpetrators’ motive, creed or nationality. Be it Al-Qaeda, Da’esh (ISIS) or state-sponsored radicalism, the international community must now pull together to combat terrorism, its funding and the extremist ideologies at its source.
The Saudi government in Riyadh has spared no effort or resources in the fight against terrorism. It detains suspected terrorists on its territory, tries them in court and imposes sanctions on those whose involvement in terrorist plots is proven. The implementation of stringent financial controls advocated by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on money laundering and terrorist financing is stopping the flow of cash to terrorists. Moreover, fundraising at mosques and public places has been prohibited and international money transfers from Saudi charities have been stopped to ensure funds cannot enter the hands of extremists.
To address the problem of terrorism at its root, the Kingdom in 2005 launched a large-scale national campaign to raise public awareness of the risks of extremist ideology, which continues to this day. Through cooperation, European countries stand to benefit from the Saudi experiences of fighting extremism and radical thought. For instance, there is rich expertise to be tapped from the Prince Mohammed bin Naif Counselling and Care Center which rehabilitates extremists and the Assakina Campaign for Dialogue, which works to correct misinterpretation of Islamic doctrines about violence, reject excess and promote moderation.
On the international stage, the Kingdom actively seeks to encourage dialogue between followers of different religions and cultures in order to promote harmony between them. The KAICIID Center for Dialogue in Vienna is an intergovernmental center of exchange which was set up by Saudi Arabia to promote justice, peace and reconciliation, and counteract the abuse of religion to justify violence. Furthermore, the center played a pivotal role in founding the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center with a contribution of $110 million that has strengthened the activities of Member States to confront the extremist ideology that feeds terrorism. It is in this same context that Saudi Arabia last year announced the formation of a military coalition of 35 Islamic states that is working alongside the United Nations to fight terrorism and extremism on the ground.
Saudi Arabia stands firmly against all violent extremist movements, regardless of confession or ideology. The Kingdom plays a leading role within the international coalition to combat terrorist groups, notably fighting against Da’esh (ISIS) in Syria and in the wider region. Saudi Arabia will continue to promote political stability in the region, and will continue to working alongside its international partners to restore long-lasting peace and security, and reduce the risk of further senseless brutality.
Abdulrahman Sulaiman Alahmed
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and Head of the Saudi Mission to the European Union
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz today sent a cable of condolences to His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium, condemning the criminal attacks in Brussels and calling for global cooperation to fight terrorism.
“It is with great sorrow that we learned of the terrorist attacks in Brussels. On behalf of the government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we strongly condemn these criminal acts and express the deepest of condolences to Your Majesty, the families of the victims and the brotherly people of Belgium,” said King Salman. “We reiterate the importance of international efforts to confront and eliminate this dangerous scourge, condemned by all divine religious and international norms and conventions”
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Naif, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, sent similar cables of condolences.
The General Secretariat of Senior Scholars Commission condemned the terrorist attacks in Belgium which killed and injured a number of people. The General Secretariat confirmed that the entire world must work together to fight terrorism whatever its source and wherever it targets.
The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Iyad Ameen Madani, condemned in the strictest terms the terrorist attacks perpetrated Brussels. Secretary General Madani reaffirmed the OIC’s unwavering solidarity and support to Belgium at these critical and painful circumstances and expressed his firm rejection of these terrorist acts, which violate the sanctity of human life and reiterated OIC’s principled and consistent position in condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
The Secretary General called upon all governments across the world, international organizations and civil society institutions to engage in a concerted joint firm action to combat the scourge of terrorism which represents a serious threat to international peace and security.
GCC Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani has condemned today’s terrorist attacks in Belgian. In a statement, Secretary-General Al-Zayani described the attacks as a horrendous crime that contradicts with moral and humanitarian principles and values as well as international laws. The secretary general reiterated GCC states’ rejection of terrorism in all forms and manifestations, stressing their support for the Belgian government in all the legal measures that it takes to tackle such criminal terrorist acts.
Saudi Arabia regrets the resignation of Makarim Wibisono, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories.
The Kingdom’s Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Faisal Trad, strongly condemned the Israeli persistent obstinacy in rejecting cooperation, a persistence that confirms Israel’s scorn for legitimate international decisions and its insistence on violating human rights, international conventions, and international human law. It heedlessly uses power to control natural resources, launch illegal settlements, raze lands, and continually instigate and enflame hatred against the Palestinian people and their sacred sites.
Ambassador Trad commended Wibisono’s report which documented the violations committed by the Israeli occupying forces against the Palestinian population.