Cabinet: Welcomes de-escalation in Syria and condemns Israeli violations
His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister - may God protect him - chaired the Cabinet meeting held today in the capital, Riyadh, where the Council reviewed the political talks and consultations that the Kingdom has recently conducted with a number of brotherly and friendly countries, within the framework of its leading role to promote international security and peace.
Welcoming the ceasefire in Syria
At the outset of the session, and in response to regional developments, the Cabinet welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). This welcome comes within the context of the intensive diplomatic efforts led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in cooperation with the United States of America to end the internal conflict.
This event is of major strategic importance, as it is seen as a pivotal step towards restoring stability in Syria after years of conflict that have negatively impacted regional security. This agreement is expected to contribute to creating the necessary political climate to support a peaceful resolution, strengthen Syrian national unity, and positively impact the stability of the entire Middle East region, while also reducing foreign interference.
Condemnation of Israeli violations in Gaza
Regarding the Palestinian issue, the Cabinet reiterated its firm stance on the developments in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the contents of the statement issued by the foreign ministers of the Kingdom and the Arab and Islamic states. The Cabinet condemned in the strongest terms the violations of the ceasefire by the Israeli occupation forces, warning that these practices undermine international efforts aimed at consolidating the truce.
The Council stressed that the continuation of these violations disrupts the implementation of the stages of the peace plan, emphasizing the need for the international community to join forces to push for a permanent cessation of aggression, leading to a just and comprehensive solution that guarantees the Palestinian people their legitimate right to establish their independent state, which represents a fundamental pillar for security and stability in the region.
Global environmental and economic initiatives
On the development and environmental front, the Council noted the outcomes of the second meeting of the Ministerial Council of the “Green Middle East” initiative, commending the addition of new members, bringing the total to 35 countries. This initiative is part of the Kingdom’s strategy to combat climate change, aiming to plant more than 22 billion trees and rehabilitate vast areas of degraded land, thus reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a global leader in environmental sustainability.
The Council also praised the successes achieved by the international conferences recently hosted by Riyadh, including the International Conference on Data and Artificial Intelligence, the Future Real Estate Forum, and the Saudi Media Forum, which witnessed the signing of dozens of strategic agreements that support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in diversifying the economy and localizing technology.
Decisions and approvals
The Council concluded its session by issuing a number of important decisions, including approving cooperation agreements with countries such as Cyprus, Brazil, Finland, and Uzbekistan in the fields of transport, security, and logistics, in addition to adopting the national policy for the Arabic language, and approving promotions to the fourteenth and fifteenth ranks in a number of ministries.
