Saudi Arabia astonished by accusations it is siding with Russia in Ukraine: Defense minister

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Supplied)
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Updated 16 October 2022
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Saudi Arabia astonished by accusations it is siding with Russia in Ukraine: Defense minister

  • “Iran is also a member of OPEC, does this mean that the Kingdom is standing with Iran as well?”: Prince Khalid

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is astonished by accusations that the Kingdom is siding with Russia in its war with Ukraine, Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said on Sunday.

Retweeting a Twitter post by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanking Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity and announcing Saudi aid to the country, Prince Khalid said it was telling that “these false accusations did not come from the Ukrainian government.”

The minister said that some were accusing the Kingdom of standing with Russia despite the fact that the decision taken by OPEC+ on Oct.5 to cut production by 2 million barrels per day was unanimous and “due to purely economic reasons.”

“Iran is also a member of OPEC, does this mean that the Kingdom is standing with Iran as well?” the minister asked.

Meanwhile, the secretary general of OPEC Haitham Al-Ghais said on Sunday that the organization does not target a specific price, but rather targets balance between supply and demand.

“Slow economic growth reflects on oil demand and OPEC+ took a pre-emptive decision,” he said.

“The stability of oil markets is important for the future, it is not only about today. Our decisions are purely technical,” the official said.


Wrth market to showcase Saudi arts in Riyadh

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Wrth market to showcase Saudi arts in Riyadh

RIYADH: The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, known as Wrth, in partnership with Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City, will launch the Wrth Market from Feb. 15 to 17 at Misk City in Riyadh.

The initiative is part of Wrth’s efforts to promote traditional Saudi arts, support artisans and entrepreneurs, and integrate handcrafted products into contemporary lifestyles, coinciding with the approach of Ramadan.

The market aims to highlight the cultural and aesthetic value of traditional arts associated with Ramadan products, presenting them as integral to daily life, family and society, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

This interactive platform will enable artisans and entrepreneurs to showcase their work, share their stories and present their craft experiences, enriching the cultural landscape and raising public awareness of traditional arts.

The market will feature 25 entrepreneurs representing a wide range of crafts, including woodworking, jewelry, pottery, leatherwork, Sadu weaving, gypsum crafts, palm frond weaving and metalwork.

Booths are designed with a Ramadan-inspired identity that reflects authenticity and innovation, while supporting the sustainability of traditional crafts and the economic empowerment of their practitioners.

Wrth is a leading national institution dedicated to strengthening cultural identity and enriching Saudi traditional arts locally and internationally. It aims to preserve heritage, recognize distinguished practitioners, support national talent and encourage the learning, mastery and development of traditional arts.