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At UN Assembly, Saudi Arabia pledges to press ahead in combat against terrorism, extremism

Adel Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak
Adel Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session.

At UN Assembly, Saudi Arabia pledges to press ahead in combat against terrorism, extremism

The threat of terrorism is among the most serious challenges facing the international community, Adel Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, told the United Nations General Assembly today, stressing that his country would continue to work to counter the scourge, as well as extremism, in all forms and manifestations.

The crisis in Qatar had jeopardized his country’s policy of cutting off funding to terrorists and extremists. Doha’s financial support of terrorism, and dissemination of violent hate speech, was unacceptable, as was its policy of providing safe haven to those who violated the law. The position taken by the four States was meant to demand that Qatar follow the principles of international law in fighting terrorism, he explained.

Pledging to continue providing aid to members of the Rohingya minority fleeing Myanmar, Saudi Arabia today urged the Government of Myanmar to protect its population from discrimination.

“My country is gravely concerned and condemns the policy of repression and forced displacement carried out by the government of Myanmar against the Rohingya minority,” he said.

He said the “human tragedy” runs counter to all human rights, humanitarian values and international laws, and urged the Government to bring about an end in line with the UN principles.

The Foreign Minister said that Saudi Arabia will disperse $15 million in assistance to host some 500,000 peoples, while also personally intervening with neighbouring countries and Bangladesh to ensure safe passage and house families in decent living conditions.

Full statement (in Arabic) available here