Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, SPA:
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud led the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's delegation to the first Arab-EU Summit which began yesterday in Egypt.
Upon arrival at International Conferences Center in Sharm El Sheikh, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was received by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Then, the opening session of the 1st Arab-EU Summit titled "Investing in Stability" under co-chairmanship of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt and President of European Council Donald Tusk was held.
Then, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud delivered a speech in which he thanked President Abdel Fattah El Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt for hosting this summit, wishing him all success.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques also lauded the historic relations binding the Arab world and the European Union in the political, security, economic and cultural fields, looking forward that this summit will consolidate these relations in all fields in order to achieve joint interests.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques affirmed that the Palestinian Cause is the Arab states' first interst, pointing out that the Arab leaders reiterated in the recent Arab Summit titled "Al-Quds Summit" held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia their firm stance towards restoring all rights of the Palestinian people, particularly an establishment of the Palestinian independent state on 1967 parallel with East Al-Quds as its capital in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and the international legitimate resolutions.
King Salman stressed that solving the Palestinian Cause is important not only for the Middle East's stability, but for the global security, particularly in Europe, lauding the EU efforts in finding a just solution for the Palestinian Cause.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud disclosed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirmed the importance of a political solution to the Yemeni crisis in accordance with the Gulf initiative, outcomes of the Yemeni national dialogue and Security Council resolution No. 2216.
King Salman affirmed the importance of the international concerted efforts to support the Yemeni legitimacy and mount pressure on the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist putschist militias to comply with the will of the international community.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud added that the Kingdom exerted great efforts to ensure the success of Sweden's consultations, calling for strictly and accurately following-up the implementation of that agreement and holding the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist militias responsible for the existing situation in Yemen.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques also called for denouncing the launch of more than 200 Iranian-manufactured ballistic missiles towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stressing that the Iranian activities to destabilize security and stability of the maritime navigation in Bab el Mandeb and the Red Sea represent a direct and dangerous threat to the security of all.
The Saudi King added that the Iranian regime's support for these militias and others in the region and its aggressive practices and blatant interference in the affairs of the states requires a unified international position to coerce Iran respecting the rules of good neighborliness and international law and put an end to its nuclear and ballistic program.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques affirmed that remaining committed to the international treaties, norms and resolutions is the basis for resolving international disputes, reiterating a call for a political solution to the crises in some Arab countries in accordance with the international references. He hailed the EU efforts in this regard.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud disclosed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, similar to many countries, has suffered from terrorism, adding that many international pioneering efforts led to combat terrorism at all levels, including drying up its intellectual and financing sources.
King Salman asserted that joint security cooperation with a number of the states yielded in thwarting a number of terrorist heinous attempts, affirming the importance of confronting terrorism and money laundering relentlessly.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques said that the issues of refugees, migrants and displaced persons from their countries because of tragedies of war and conflicts are at the top of urgent humanitarian issues, wishing that this summit succeeds in providing solutions.
Based on Islamic and Arabic principles, the Kingdom would never lag behind in carrying out its humanitarian duties towards the crises suffered by some countries and peoples in the region and the world at large without religious or ethnic discrimination, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques stated, citing that the Kingdom has provided aid worth about $35 billion to more than 80 countries in the humanitarian, charitable and developmental fields.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud disclosed that state-to-state relations cannot be established without full respect for mutual sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.
King Salman added that neglecting such firm principles in the international relations could affect achieving joint coexistence and cooperation, affirming that the Kingdom's interest in this summit is the two sides' desire to consolidate relations in all fields in accordance with these principles.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques asserted that our responsibility towards our peoples and coming generations requires us to build a real Arab-EU partnership inspired by past experiences to provide plans for the present, and create opportunities for the future out of the present challenges.
The official delegation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Arab EU summit in Sharm El Sheikh comprises the following: Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet; Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Isam bin Saad bin Saeed, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet; Dr. Majed bin Abdullah Al-Gasabi, Minister of Commerce and Investment; Turki bin Abdullah Al-Shabana, Minister of Information; and Osama bin Ahmed Nugali, Saudi Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Kingdom's permanent representative to the Arab League.