Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet's Virtual Session

NEOM, March 16, 2021, SPA -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Prime Minister, chaired today the Cabinet's virtual session. At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the contents of the message he has sent to Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait, in which he confirmed the firm ties binding the two countries and peoples. Then the Cabinet reviewed the overall talks and consultations His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had with each of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi; Russian President's Special Envoy on Syria Alexander Lavrentiev; Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, covering the bilateral relations and ways of enhancing and developing them as well as discussing the developments of regional and international situations and coordinating the efforts being exerted towards them in a way that enhances security and stability. In this regard, the Cabinet reiterated the importance of continuing lending support for solving the Syrian crisis and finding a political path to serve as an asset to reach a settlement and stability of the situation in Syria in a way that guarantees security for its people and protects them from terrorist organizations and sectarian militias which impede reaching a real solution. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi pointed out that the Cabinet has reaffirmed the Kingdom's support for the efforts of the United Nations envoy for Yemen to reach a comprehensive ceasefire and a start of an inclusive political process according to the three references (the GCC Initiative and its executive mechanisms, the outcomes of the national dialogue and the UN Security Council resolution No. 2216). The Cabinet underlined the importance of extending weapons embargo on Iran as it is continuing to provide the terrorist Houthi militias with advanced weapons and drones used to terrify the Yemenis and target civilians and civil objects in the Kingdom deliberately and systematically. The Cabinet expressed the Kingdom's support for the international efforts aimed at ensuring that the Iranian regime does not develop a nuclear weapons system and ballistic missiles, making the Arab gulf region free of all weapons of mass destruction, and respect the independence and sovereignty of countries and not to interfere in its internal affairs. The Cabinet expressed the Kingdom's congratulations to Libya, its government and its people on the occasion of granting confidence to the government of national unity, and its support for the efforts leading to a political solution to the crisis. The Kingdom hopes that this step will achieve security, stability and development in Libya, preserve its unity and sovereignty, and prevent external interference that endanger Arab regional security. Dr. Al-Qasabi indicated that the Cabinet reviewed Coronavirus (COVID-19) developments at the local and international levels, and the latest statistics and indicators related to the virus, in light of the efforts made to control the fluctuation in the infections curve. The Cabinet also reviewed the continued expansion of the vaccination campaign, and the launch of more vaccination centers in various regions of the Kingdom, in order to preserve the health and safety of citizens and residents, limit the spread of the virus, and facilitate vaccination with approved vaccines that have shown high protection from infection. --SPA