Gulf united on Russia-Ukraine war, says Saudi foreign minister

Gulf united on Russia-Ukraine war, says Saudi foreign minister
The 5th GCC-Russia joint ministerial meeting for strategic dialogue takes place in Riyadh on Wednesday. (Supplied)
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Updated 01 June 2022

Gulf united on Russia-Ukraine war, says Saudi foreign minister

Gulf united on Russia-Ukraine war, says Saudi foreign minister
  • Regional security and concerns about the activities of Iran are important unifying factors, Prince Faisal said
  • Lavrov: GCC nations have given assurances that they will not impose sanctions on Moscow

RIYADH: Gulf nations stand united on the issue of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, according to Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

“Our stance as Gulf countries regarding the Russian-Ukrainian crisis is unified,” he said on Wednesday during a speech at the opening of the 152nd session of the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

“Today we had two fruitful meetings with the Russian and Ukrainian ministers, during which we stated our unified stance regarding the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and its negative consequences, namely the food security of the affected countries and the world.”

Closer to home, he added, regional security and concerns about the activities of Iran are important unifying factors.

“Laying the foundations of our regional security is one of the most important pillars of our unity, which faces big challenges and requires close coordination to reach a common approach to our international relations to nurture our interests,” said Prince Faisal.

“In the forefront of these challenges is Iran’s nuclear project, its arming of militias, its support for terrorism and its destabilizing behavior in the region. That’s why our dialogue and communication with Iran should be based on a unified Gulf stance, through which we call for peace, cooperation and adherence to the principles of international legitimacy and good-neighborliness, so we can be able to work together to achieve our developmental plans within a stable regional environment that supports partnerships and economic-diversification projects.”

He added: “The stability of the brotherly country of Yemen is an integral part of the security of the Gulf system and the Arabian Peninsula. Therefore, the GCC countries emphasize the provision of all means of support to achieve the goals of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council and empower its supporting bodies to carry out the roles assigned to them, so that Yemen can regain its stability and security and maintain its unity and sovereignty.

“We reiterate our support for the UN’s efforts, led by its special envoy to Yemen, aiming to reach a comprehensive political solution to end the crisis in Yemen.

“We seek during our meeting today to contribute to the security and stability of our countries and achieve our people’s aspirations for a better future.”

Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s minister of foreign affairs, said that Western nations seek to form a unilateral world led by the US. During a press conference on Wednesday after a closed meeting in Riyadh with his counterparts from GCC countries, he also accused the West of pushing Ukraine to threaten the security of his country.

Lavrov said that GCC nations understand the nature of the conflict between his country and the West, and that the Gulf states have given assurances that they will not join Western nations in imposing sanctions on Moscow.

He accused Western countries of violating the UN charter through their actions against his country, and called for the withdrawal of heavy weapons from Ukraine.


Saudi Arabia showcases global aid work at Brussels forum

Saudi Arabia showcases global aid work at Brussels forum
Updated 8 sec ago

Saudi Arabia showcases global aid work at Brussels forum

Saudi Arabia showcases global aid work at Brussels forum
  • Health, security, food and shelter projects in 90 countries
  • Sweden praises Saudi Arabia’s worldwide humanitarian role

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center recently participated in the second European Humanitarian Forum in the Belgian capital, Brussels, where it showcased its work in 90 countries.

KSrelief’s pavilion featured projects including food security, health, safety, emergency relief, education and shelter for the displaced.

It also displayed KSrelief’s reach to beneficiaries, through air and land bridges, in addition to the projects the Kingdom implemented in Yemen, including the Masam project to clear that country of 400,000 mines.

KSrelief also provided details of a project to rehabilitate child soldiers and establish a center for prosthetics in Yemen. The center manufactures and provides prosthetic limbs and organizes rehabilitation programs for those affected.

The KSrelief stand has an interactive screen displaying films, and a corner for publications and reports. Several visitors to the pavilion expressed their admiration for the organization’s work. 

On the sidelines of the forum, KSrelief General Supervisor Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah met Sweden’s state secretary to the minister for international development cooperation and foreign trade, Diana Janse.

Janse praised Saudi Arabia for its humanitarian work, highlighting KSrelief’s projects to help needy people around the world.

The two officials discussed matters of common interest related to relief and humanitarian affairs, and ways to enhance cooperation to streamline aid projects globally.

Al-Rabeeah also met UN Development Programme Administrator Achim Steiner and discussed issues of common interest, their strategic partnership and ways to enhance relations.

Steiner praised the effective role of the Kingdom to alleviate the suffering of the needy worldwide.

The two-day forum was organized by the European Commission and Sweden, president of the Council of the EU, from March 20 to 21.

KSrelief’s participation forms part of the organization’s efforts to improve its work worldwide in support of vulnerable people.

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Saudi boy amazes tourists with his communication skills

Saudi boy amazes tourists with his communication skills
Updated 21 March 2023

Saudi boy amazes tourists with his communication skills

Saudi boy amazes tourists with his communication skills
  • Al-Ansari’s story began when he and his father were captured in a video posted by a Peruvian journalist that later went viral in Qatar during the World Cup
  • His ability to speak English well has resulted in Al-Ansari deciding to promote tourism to Saudi Arabia as he continues his studies

JEDDAH: A 13-year-old boy named Omar Al-Ansari has become an internet celebrity in Saudi Arabia after appearing in several viral videos speaking in eloquent English and showing groups of foreign tourists the cultural sites of AlUla and the historical areas of Jeddah.

Al-Ansari’s story began when he and his father were captured in a video posted by a Peruvian journalist that later went viral on social media in Qatar during the World Cup.

Al-Ansari told Arab News: “We went to Qatar to support our national team but we couldn’t get tickets, so we went to a restaurant to watch the game and we met a Peruvian journalist who sat with us to watch the match between Saudi Arabia and Argentina.

“The journalist started asking us about our national football team and our culture and I explained to him the richness of our culture and our great hospitality we offer to foreign visitors.”

The journalist’s friend recorded the conversation and posted it on a social media platform, but Al-Ansari did not expect the video to spread. It was translated into Arabic, and the video was viewed more than 800,000 times.

Al-Ansari and his father returned home after a few days in Qatar to find the video going viral.

It had also caught the eye of Saudi Football Federation officials who took Al-Ansari and his father back to Qatar to resume their support of the national team.

His ability to speak English well has resulted in Al-Ansari deciding to promote tourism to Saudi Arabia as he continues his studies.

He told Arab News: “I belong to Saudi Arabia and my aim is to give the best service for all people wishing to visit my country and provide them with information on tourism.”

Meeting tourists will improve Al-Ansari’s language skills as he imparts his knowledge of the cultural and historical sites in the Kingdom.

He is making the most of his passion for history — and his distinctive style — to serve his country in a positive way, and has become a guide who introduces foreign tourists to the culture and history of the AlUla region.

He said: “The idea came to me during a visit to the AlUla region with my father. I suggested to him that we explore the opinions of foreign tourists in the region following the significant increase in visitors, thanks to the government’s efforts to develop the area.”

His AlUla videos, and consequent fame, caught the attention of Saudi Arabia’s minister of tourism, who praised his role in promoting the country.

Al-Ansari added: “I was very happy to meet the minister of tourism [Ahmed Al-Khateeb] and he encouraged me to do more videos with tourists.”

Al-Ansari admits he has been amazed by the public’s support and positive reaction to his videos.

Viewers have been impressed by his ability to speak English well, and the way he conducts his interviews. They are encouraging him to post more videos.

And having taken the internet and media world by storm, his ambition is now set on becoming an ambassador for tourism to the Kingdom.

Al-Ansari, who is currently studying in the third intermediate grade in Jeddah, revealed the secret of his mastering of the English language.

He said: “I learned it while I was traveling with my father when he was studying in the United States on scholarship in 2014. I was 5 years old.”

Al-Ansari’s 8-year old sister Jolan said: “I have been enjoying seeing my brother getting all the attention from viewers and media and hope one day I will become like him.”

Al-Ansari said: “What I am doing is delivering a message to the world of the important sites the Kingdom contains, whether in the tourism, cultural or sports fields.”

His father, Essam Al-Ansari, told Arab News of his pride in his son, and the hope that one day Omar will assume a prestigious position while serving his country.


Thursday to be first day of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia: Supreme Court

Thursday to be first day of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia: Supreme Court
Updated 21 March 2023

Thursday to be first day of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia: Supreme Court

Thursday to be first day of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia: Supreme Court
  • Shaban will last 30 days this year, and Ramadan will start on Thursday

RIYADH: The crescent moon was not sighted on Tuesday evening in Saudi Arabia and Thursday, March 23, will be the start of the holy month of Ramadan, the Kingdom’s Supreme Court has said. 

The court called on all Muslims in the Kingdom to look for the Ramadan crescent on Tuesday evening that corresponds to Shaban 29, 1444.

The Ministry of Justice announced it has launched an electronic system for crescent sighting “with the aim of automating and governing the moon sighting processes, and unifying work procedures between the courts of first instance and the Supreme Court.” 

The service aims to unify the data source of the observatory through a robust electronic system that provides speed and integration with the relevant authorities, raising the quality of the observatory operations, and speeding up the issuance of the Supreme Court’s decision regarding new moon sightings.

More than 1.9 billion Muslims around the world will mark the holy month, during which believers abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn until sunset.


Saudis celebrate Mother’s Day ahead of Ramadan

Saudis celebrate Mother’s Day ahead of Ramadan
Updated 21 March 2023

Saudis celebrate Mother’s Day ahead of Ramadan

Saudis celebrate Mother’s Day ahead of Ramadan
  • Sarah Battal: I never understood how moms can do so many things at once until I became a mom myself

RIYADH: With only a few days until Ramadan, Saudis were making changes to their plans to celebrate Mother’s Day on Tuesday.

Each year, mothers vow not to go overboard with Ramadan preparations, but can still be found lining up in stores to buy decorations and table settings, or busy in the kitchen preparing for the celebrations.

Their unmatched strength is one of the reasons Saudis celebrate their mothers.

“I never understood how moms can do so many things at once until I became a mom myself. It is the unconditional love we have for our children that moves us to do this, and not think of how or why,” said Sarah Battal, a mother of three young boys.

“So, I made it a tradition to treat my mother and myself to a much-needed pampering at a spa treatment center.”

Mother’s Day can be tricky for Saudis — fail to remember the special day and mothers will remind them by sharing how others celebrated. But if one does remember, their mother may well say that every day should be Mother’s Day.

“To be fair, they are not wrong. Every day should be a Mother’s Day,” said Naif Abdulaziz, a father of two.

“I don’t know how hard it is to be a mom, but I can get a sense of how that might feel like watching my mom take care of us growing up, and watching how wonderfully my wife is doing as a mother.”

For those living in Riyadh, there are many ways to show appreciation for mothers on this special day, including a reservation for tea at the Four Seasons, the Ritz-Carlton’s Chorisia Lounge or at Oplaisir.

“This year, I am making a surprise visit to my mom as she lives in another city, and I am taking her to buy spices from the old markets in Riyadh. This is her favorite thing to do,” said Abdullah Ibrahim, a Saudi chemical engineer based in Dhahran.

For those living in other cities, a quick and easy way to show love and appreciation is to send a colorful bouquet of flowers with a special note.

Online flower stores that offer a same-day express delivery in the Kingdom include Floward, Lamuda, Little Flora and Gifto.


Saudi FM receives phone call from Pakistani counterpart

Saudi FM receives phone call from Pakistani counterpart
Updated 21 March 2023

Saudi FM receives phone call from Pakistani counterpart

Saudi FM receives phone call from Pakistani counterpart
  • During the call, they reviewed the strong relations between their countries and ways to support and enhance them

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday.

During the call, they reviewed the strong relations between their countries and ways to support and enhance them to serve common interests.

The ministers also discussed the most prominent regional and international developments and efforts made with regard to them.