Saudi Arabia committed to political solution in Yemen

Al Jubeir says Iran and Al Houthis are destabilising security, stability in the region

Gulf News Report

Saudi Arabia affirmed that it foreign policy harps on peaceful solution to disputes and prevention of escalation of conflicts.

This came in the speech delivered on Friday by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel Al Jubeir, before the General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly at its 73rd session in New York City.

He said Saudi Arabia is committed to finding a political solution to the situation in Yemen, based on the Gulf Initiative, the outputs of the Yemeni national dialogue, and Security Council resolution 2216, according to Saudi press agency SPA.

He said the Iranian-backed Al Houthi terrorist militia is continuing to fire missiles on the cities of the Kingdom, in addition to their destabilising activities on maritime navigation in the Bab Al Mandab area and the Red Sea.

He said Riyadh continued to provide humanitarian aid to alleviate the sufferings of the Yemeni people, as well as to support the Yemeni economy.

Aid to Yemen

To this end a deposit of $2 billion (Dh7.34 billion) was made to the Central Bank of Yemen, which was ordered by King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

The total humanitarian support provided by Saudi Arabia over the past four years to Yemen is more than $13 billion, he added.

Al Jubeir said terrorism and extremism are among the most important challenges facing the world. The Saudi foreign minister renewed calls 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.

Iran continues its terrorist activities and aggressive behaviour, he said adding that Riyadh supports the new US strategy to deal with Iran, including seriousness in dealing with its nuclear programme, the ballistic missile programme, and its support for terrorism.

Saudi Arabia believes that to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East requires deterrence of Iran’s expansionist and destructive policies.