Day: June 20, 2023

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reiterated its supportive stance toward Sudan and its brotherly people to help them reach safety amid the ongoing crisis.

The Kingdom’s remarks were made by the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Ambassador Abdulmohsen Majed bin Khothaila, at the 53rd session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which kicked off on Monday and runs until 14 July, 2023.

On the first day of the session, the UNHRC held an intensified interactive dialogue on the human rights situation in Sudan.

During the dialogue, the Kingdom’s Permanent Representative urged the parties of the conflict to resort to dialogue and seek calm in order to protect Sudan’s unity and preserve its people’s security and resources.

The Kingdom and the United States continue facilitating political talks taking place in Jeddah city to agree on a ceasefire and reach a common ground with regard to the conflict, the Kingdom’s Permanent Representative said.

This aims at alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people and ending the crisis through political dialogue, he affirmed.

Since the crisis broke out in Sudan, the Kingdom has been there to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people by extending diverse humanitarian aid worth US$100 million, Ambassador bin Khothaila said.

The aid, extended as per the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, has sought to help the Sudanese people face the repercussions of the crisis, he added.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Michèle Taylor, delivered a joint statement on behalf of her country and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the session to stress the two countries’ solidarity with the people of Sudan.

Taylor also reiterated the call of the U.S. and the Kingdom, as facilitators of the Jeddah Declaration, for the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to reach a ceasefire deal.

The joint statement urged both sides of the conflict to commit seriously to facilitating humanitarian access in Sudan and restoring much-needed basic services to the Sudanese people.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) welcomed the decision reached by the State of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which includes the restoration of diplomatic relations between them in implementation of the Al-Ula summit agreement.

OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha praised this decision which confirms the keenness of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries on enhancing cooperation and joint integration among the countries of the region and achieving the aspirations of their peoples, and this would also contribute to strengthening joint Islamic action.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The second edition of Media Oasis was launched today in conjunction with the annual Grand Hajj Symposium and continues until June 22, 2023, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Jeddah.

The Media Oasis, a new initiative of the Ministry of Media was launched by the Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari aims at transforming the concept of media coverage and utilizing technology to bring more creativity and innovation into the broadcasting and keep abreast with national events and major events in the Kingdom.

In strategic partnership with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Royal Commission for the Holy City of Makkah and the Holy Sites, and the Pilgrim Service Program, the Oasis is held to cover updates of this Hajj season. The Oasis includes an exhibition where 11 public and private sectors are participating to highlight Saudi achievements in service of the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors and future projects at the holy sites in support of achieving objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

The Oasis updates local and international media on the Kingdom’s efforts in serving pilgrims. Space accommodating up to 30 media professionals has been allocated at the Oasis for editing and publishing news events. Television studios have also been provided for broadcasting the activities of the Grand Hajj Symposium. The Oasis allows media professionals and journalists coming from around the world to benefit from the Hajj Virtual Press Centre (VPC)].

The first edition of Media Oasis was convened in conjunction with the 32nd Arab Summit in Jeddah during the period of June 18-19, 2023.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Last Sunday, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Libya, “Rezdon Zeninga”, held a meeting via visual analogy technology with a number of women and youth representatives from all over the country to discuss their observations about the results of the 6 + 6 committee. .

According to a series of tweets published by the UN mission through its Twitter account today, Tuesday, the participants expressed their concerns about the proposed electoral bills being unenforceable, and about the possibility of hijacking the political process in order to prevent the elections from taking place. They also unanimously expressed their desire to end the political deadlock and the transitional stages.

For his part, “Zeninga” confirmed that the UN mission provided technical support to the 6 + 6 committee, and that it continues to support the High National Elections Commission to enable the holding of elections, and that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, “Abdullah Batili”, continues his good efforts to help all parties to finding a solution.

Source: Libyan News Agency

The second interactive business meeting between Libya and Japan was held yesterday at the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting, which was organized by the Asia and Australia Department at the Foreign Ministry, the Japanese Embassy in Tripoli, and the Japanese Energy Corporation, discussed the return of Japanese companies working in the area of oil and gas to Libya.

The meeting, which was held via Zoom”, reviewed the opportunities available in the Libyan market through search and exploration operations, and the business and investment climate in oil and gas.

During the meeting, the Libyan side called for the return of Japanese companies interested in development plans being studied by the National Oil Corporation (NOC), in addition to training Libyan cadres working in the oil and gas sector.

On the Libyan side, the meeting included the Director of the Asia and Australia Department, a number of administration departments, the Libyan Chargé d’Affaires in Japan, and on behalf of the NOC, the Director of the Exploration Department, the Director of the Refining and Distribution Department, the Director of the Reserve Development Department, the Controller of Geological Operations, and the Controller of Geophysical Operations. On the Japanese side, the Japanese Chargé d’affaires in Tripoli, “Masky Imera”, the IEEJ Energy Economics Foundation, the JIME Center, and representatives of five Japanese government institutions and 16 companies in the field of oil and support services.

This meeting comes within the framework of coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NOC and is a follow-up to what was agreed upon in the visit of the Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister and the Director General for Middle East and African Affairs and his meeting with the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to hold these meetings in preparation for the visits of economic delegations.

Source: Libyan News Agency