RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Indonesia share “very close” relations, and having been invited to be “guest of honor” country at the forthcoming 33rd Janadriyah festival only confirms the strong relations between the two countries, said Indonesian Ambassador Agus Maftuh Abegebriel.
Speaking on his country’s selection for Saudi Arabia’s national heritage and culture festival, Abegebriel, who is also his country’s permanent representative in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the invitation.
The ambassador said “Saunesia” is a new term in the diplomatic world derived from the words Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.
“Today is Saunesia time, which means we are in the golden period of our bilateral relations, as reflected by the exchange of visits at the highest level,” said Abegebriel.
President Joko Widodo visited Saudi Arabia in 2015 and 2017, and King Salman visited Indonesia in March 2017, he said, adding that the two leaders have committed to enhancing bilateral relations into a more comprehensive and strategic cooperation.
“Both countries have signed a memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation in March 2017, and Indonesia’s participation in Janadriyah is a follow-up of the MoU,” he said. “We are very delighted to have this opportunity to showcase our diverse culture and heritage in our special pavilion during the event.”
He said Indonesia will also promote its world-class tourism destinations as well as its high-quality products to the public in Saudi Arabia.
“By enhancing cultural relations, we are promoting more people-to-people contact so both sides will have a better mutual understanding," he said.
“I look forward to welcoming members of the royal family, government officials, the business community and Saudi people, as well as diplomatic corps and people from other countries at the Indonesian pavilion during the Janadriyah festival.”
King Salman will patronize the opening ceremony of the 33rd Janadriyah festival on Dec. 31. The 18-day event, named after the village on the northern outskirts of Riyadh where it is held annually to celebrate symbols of the Saudi identity, is organized by the Ministry of National Guard.
Guest of honor countries in recent years have included India at Janadriyah 32, Egypt at Janadriyah 31, Germany at Janadriyah 30 and the UAE at Janadriyah 29.
Honoring Indonesia at Janadriyah ‘confirms close ties with Saudi Arabia’
Honoring Indonesia at Janadriyah ‘confirms close ties with Saudi Arabia’
- King Salman will patronize the opening ceremony of the 33rd Janadriyah festival on Dec. 31
Threat to Kingdom’s security is ‘red line’ that will be ‘addressed and neutralized,’ Saudi envoy says
- Abdulaziz Alwasil tells UN Security Council the situation in southern Yemen is ‘a just cause with social and historic dimensions’ that can only be resolved through dialogue
- Recent military activity in the south was unilateral, resulting in an escalation that harms the interests of Yemeni people and undermines efforts to address issues in the south, he said
NEW YORK CITY: Any attempt to threaten Saudi Arabia’s national security is a “red line” and will be met with decisive action, the Kingdom’s ambassador to the UN told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Speaking during a meeting of the council to discuss Yemen, Abdulaziz Alwasil said the situation in the south of the country is “a just cause with social and historic dimensions” that can only be resolved through dialogue.
“We stress that any attempt to threaten our national security is a red line, and we will not hesitate to take the necessary actions and steps to address it and neutralize it,” he added.
Alwasil reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for Yemeni President Rashad Al-Alimi, the Presidential Leadership Council, and the Yemeni government in their efforts to achieve security, stability, development and peace while preserving national unity.
He said military activity by Southern Transitional Council forces in Hadramout and Al-Mahra on Dec. 2, 2025, was unilateral, did not have the approval of the Presidential Leadership Council, and was not carried out in coordination with the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen.
It had resulted in an unjustified escalation that harmed the interests of the Yemeni people, undermined efforts to address the issues in the south, and ran counter to the coalition’s objectives, Alwasil added.
The Kingdom, working with its coalition partners, the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government, had moved to contain the situation by dispatching a military force to coordinate arrangements with the Southern Transitional Council in Aden, he said.
The aim was to ensure the return of the southern council’s forces to their previous positions outside of Hadramout and Al-Mahra, and the handover of camps to legitimate government forces and local authorities in line with agreed procedures, Alwasil added.
He expressed regret over the military operations that took place in Hadramout and Al-Mahra, close to Saudi Arabia’s southern border, which he said posed a direct threat to the Kingdom’s national security, as well as the security of Yemen and regional stability. Such steps were extremely dangerous, he added, and contradicted the principles on which the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen had been founded.
Alwasil welcomed a prisoner and detainee exchange agreement signed in Muscat on Dec. 23, which he described as an important humanitarian measure to alleviate suffering and build confidence.
He praised Oman for hosting and sponsoring the consultations and supporting negotiations, and commended the efforts of UN’s special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, the International Committee of the Red Cross and all others that has played a part.
Regarding the political efforts to resolve the crisis, Alwasil said Saudi Arabia welcomed President Al-Alimi’s call for an inclusive conference in Riyadh to bring together all stakeholders to discuss just solutions to the situation in southern Yemen.
Preparations for the conference have begun, he added, in cooperation with the Yemeni government and southern representatives, reflecting the close ties between the two countries and their shared interests in stabilizing Yemen.
He urged all southern stakeholders to participate actively and constructively in the talks, to help find comprehensive and just solutions that meet the legitimate aspirations of the people of southern Yemen.
Alwasil called on all Yemeni forces and stakeholders to cooperate and intensify their efforts to reach a lasting political settlement that would ensure security and stability.
He described the southern issue as “a just cause with social and historic dimensions,” adding that “the only way to address it is through dialogue that leads to a comprehensive political solution” based on nationally and internationally agreed terms of reference.
