RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is playing a pivotal role in achieving peace in an increasingly insecure world, New Zealand’s deputy prime minister told Arab News the same day his country announced new tariffs on Russia.
“This is a very dramatically changing world with greater insecurity than ever for a long, long time. And so, we’re looking at countries that are playing a pivotal role as Saudi Arabia is, and the Gulf states, in terms of peace here and world peace itself,” Winston Peters told Arab News during a state visit on Monday.
“I know these aspirations sound to be big and large objectives, but we have got to keep on trying to improve the world we’re in, and we’re looking and observing with a great deal of admiration of the new role in terms of stability that Saudi Arabia appears to be playing.”
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The deputy prime minister reaffirmed New Zealand’s support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The new sanctions announced by New Zealand target 52 individuals and entities involved in Russia’s military and energy industries, as well as North Korean support.
The minister firmly stated: “You will hear all manner of propaganda about Ukraine, but there was an invasion of Crimea in 2014, no one reacted.
“And then we had, just over three years ago ... the beginning of a war.
“Now we’re hearing that the so-called guilty party is utterly innocent, that somehow their soldiers coming over the border into Ukraine is an act of innocence.”
As an active member of the UN, New Zealand is looking for what Peters called “an illegal war” to end immediately.
Certain “uncertainties” from Russia’s point of view about where they fit in the NATO-sphere of nations and Ukraine’s position relevant to the alliance are, according to the Peters, irrelevant at this point in time.
The minister also touched on New Zealand’s stance on the war in Gaza, reaffirming his country’s support of a two-state solution.
“Observing this constant strife, decade after decade after decade, we all want a solution that is in the best interests of the people involved … No matter the government back in New Zealand, we have always been for a two-state solution,” he said.
But the minister said that the purpose of his visit was to take part in Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day weekend celebrations.
“It is a very important celebration … and also to see progress on Vision 2030, which we, even in a brief amount of time, can see so much has advanced from the point of view of economic and social progress,” he said.
He also discussed a recent free trade agreement between New Zealand and the Gulf Cooperation Council states.
New Zealand and the GCC concluded negotiations on an FTA on Oct. 31 of last year, and trade ministers on both sides are expected to sign the agreement in the coming months.
On strengthening cultural ties in the education sector, the minister spoke dimly of the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diminishing numbers of Saudi students attending New Zealand universities.
“As a consequence, what used to be 6,000 students a year has dwindled away to a much lesser number, less than a thousand.
“So, we are going to have those talks going forward.”
Peters also touched on Saudi Arabia’s equestrian heritage, after watching New Zealand’s James McDonald perform in the Saudi Cup over the weekend.
“The Arabian horse is unique; it’s got stamina and can run enormous distances … From that, we’ve bred the best in the world.”
He also highlighted Kiwi boxer Joseph Parker’s two-round win over Martin Bakole in Riyadh on Saturday.
