ISTANBUL: Saudi Arabia is playing a key role in supporting developing countries, promoting peace and stability in the world, and leading the fight for the true Islam that is far from extremism, said Shoura Council Speaker Abdullah Al-Sheikh during the 10th plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) in Istanbul on Nov. 21.
“This meeting calls for peace and development in Asia, and the Kingdom has always been an influential country in this domain and is almost the No. 1 country in supporting developing nations,” he added. He also pointed out that Saudi Arabia calls for peace, and is a source of Islam that is based on peace.
The Turkish Parliament Speaker, Ismail Kahraman, on Tuesday launched APA’s 2nd Executive Council meeting and the 10th plenary session of the APA.
In his speech during the opening ceremony, Kahraman highlighted the importance of APA’s role in supporting peace, security and stability for Asia, its countries and people, and the importance of Asian parliaments’ roles in achieving these goals.
Burhan Kiaturk, leader of the Turkish delegation, welcomed the participating delegate from member countries and highlighted the importance of the meeting, which was organized under the title “Sustaining Peace and Development in Asia.” He also extended his thanks to the chairman of the 2nd Executive Committee, Nguon Nhel, and to Cambodia for heading the assembly during the past two years.
The APA was established in 1999 and currently consists of 42 member parliaments from across Asia.
Saudi Arabia is leading the fight for true Islam, says Shoura Council speaker
Saudi Arabia is leading the fight for true Islam, says Shoura Council speaker
Saudi Arabia welcomes ceasefire agreement between Syrian Democratic Forces and Syria state
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has welcomed an agreement between the Syrian state and Syrian Democratic Forces.
In a foreign ministry statement early on Monday, the Kingdom said it had welcomed an deal between Damascus and Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces that was announced by the Syrian government on Sunday.
The agreement entails merging all SDF forces into the defense and interior ministries and means that Kurdish forces will redeploy to east of the Euphrates river.
The 14-point deal would also see the immediate administrative and military handover of Deir Ezzor and Raqqa governorates.
The Syrian state would regain control of all border crossings, oil fields, and gas fields in the region, with protection secured by regular forces to ensure the return of resources to the Syrian government, while considering the special case of Kurdish areas, the state news agency SANA reported.
The ceasefire comes after intense fighting between the SDF and government troops in Aleppo. But SDF troops have now pulled back from there and the Syrian army now controls most areas east of Aleppo.
The Saudi foreign ministry statement also thanked the US for the agreement. Washington is believed to have supported brokering the ceasefire between allies SDF and the Syrian government, who they have also backed diplomatically since the fall of long-time dictator Bashar Assad.
The Syrian state announced on Friday a raft of new directives to recognize Syrian Kurds, including making their language official and bolstering other rights for the minority group.
