Day: May 23, 2023

Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Hasan Khaddour said Monday that Syria is part to most International pacts on prevention of all forms of crime, adding that Syria is keen on modernizing and developing its national laws in line with these international agreements.

“Based on that fact, the Syrian government has issued a package of laws that included combating human trafficking, anti-money laundering, preventing the financing of terrorism, kidnapping, detaining freedom, anti-cybercrime, banking secrecy, and many other laws,” Khaddour said in a statement at the thirty-second session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

The Ambassador added that President Bashar al-Assad issued law No. 20 for 2022 stipulating the rearrangement of the criminal law acts of the cyber-crime in order to combat the IT crimes.

Khaddour said that the war in Syria and the US-western economic measures caused waves of resident displacement to neighboring territories, a matter that mounted the phenomena of human trafficking, particularly children.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, held a meeting today with the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Alexander Schallenberg. The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vienna.

During the meeting, the officials reviewed the relations between the GCC and Austria and the means to support and strengthen them to serve common interests. Views were also exchanged on many regional and international issues, in addition to reviewing the latest developments in the regional and international arenas.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Saudi Ambassador to the Republic of Kenya Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Salman, met today with the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi, Zainab Hawa Bangura.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation relations and several topics of common interest.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) participates as a digital enabler in the “Makkah Route” initiative, which is among the Ministry of Interior’s initiatives within the Pilgrim Experience Program – one of Saudi Vision 2030 programs.

The Ministry of the Interior is implementing the Makkah Route initiative for the year 1444 AH in seven countries: Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Such efforts come within the framework of the unrivalled support the SDAIA receives from HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SDAIA, to enable it to play its role in advancing the fields of data and AI, stimulating their growth, and making use of them.

The efforts also come within SDAIA’s endeavors to provide capabilities related to data and forward-looking capabilities, enhance them with continuous innovation in the field of AI, and harness them to serve the state sectors and support digital transformation.

This comes in addition to strengthening cooperation efforts between the state sectors to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, including the Pilgrim Experience Program.

SDAIA is integrated in its roles with the rest of the government agencies working within the Makkah Route initiative, through the National Information Center (NIC), which is working on developing a set of highly specific technical systems.

The SDAIA team includes a group of engineers and technicians who work in the airports of the above-mentioned countries around the clock to connect, activate and operate workstations equipped with the latest related technologies that facilitate the completion of procedures for pilgrims in record time.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chaired the Cabinet session held today at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques thanked God for the blessing He bestowed upon the pilgrims who could perform their rituals with ease and reassurance and for enabling “this blessed country to take care of the Two Holy Mosques and serve their pilgrims”.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques thanked all authorities concerned with pilgrims’ affairs for their efforts that contributed to the success of Hajj this year, 1444 AH, and for providing excellent services, which helped the pilgrims perform the Hajj rituals in great comfort.

Their efforts, the King said, are testimony to the dedication to the great duty God honoured the Kingdom’s leadership and people to carry out.

The Cabinet was briefed on the outcome of the official visit of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the Republic of France and his meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, during which they reviewed the historical and strategic relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them in all fields.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the Cabinet session, Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari said that the Cabinet commended the joint statement issued by the Kingdom and France on cooperation in the field of energy and the keenness of the two countries to implement the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.

The Cabinet reviewed the Kingdom’s recent participation in regional and international meetings as part of its efforts to support collective action and follow a multilateral approach to face global challenges, maintain peace and stability, and achieve development and prosperity.

The Cabinet also reviewed the outcome of the 6th joint ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between GCC and the Russian Federation, held in Moscow, regarding adopting a joint action plan for 2023-2028 and coordination on various regional and international political issues.

The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom’s keenness to lend support to the precautionary efforts exerted by the OPEC+ countries to ensure the stability and balance of oil markets, including extending the voluntary cut of one million barrels per day, which has started being implemented in July, for another month, to include the month of August that can be extended.

The minister said that the Cabinet sees the positive results achieved by the Kingdom in the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2023 report as a reflection of the economic transformation process adopted by the Kingdom with the aim of achieving prosperity and progress in all fields.

The Cabinet welcomed the World Intellectual Property Organization’s decision to appoint the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) as an International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authority and the accreditation given to the Sand and Dust Storm Warning Regional Center by the World Meteorological Organization.

The Cabinet was also briefed on a number of issues on its agenda and issued the following decisions:

First: Approving the Kingdom’s accession to the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in South-East Asia and relevant protocols.

Second: Authorizing the Minister of Culture – or a deputy – to hold talks with the Burkinabe side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the cultural field between the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism of the Republic of Burkina Faso.

Third: Authorizing the Minister of Justice – or a deputy – to sign a draft cooperation agreement in the judicial field between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Chad, and to sign a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation between the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Chad.

Fourth: Approving a draft memorandum of understanding between the National Center of Meteorology of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization on reducing the possibility of risks and disasters that might occur in the Arab world.

Fifth: Authorizing the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture – or a deputy – to discuss with the Zambian and Indonesian sides two draft memoranda of understanding regarding cooperation in the agricultural fields between the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Zambia, as well as the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia.

Sixth: Authorizing the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources – or a deputy – to discuss with the Moroccan, Congolese, Zimbabwean, Zambian, Mauritanian and Senegalese sides draft memoranda of understanding in the field of mineral wealth between the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and each of: the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Ministry of Mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development of the Republic of Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Mines of the Republic of Zambia, the Ministry of Petroleum, Mines and Energy of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the Ministry of Mines and Geology of the Republic of Senegal.

Seventh: Approving a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of tourism between the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Commerce and Tourism of the Republic of Djibouti.

Eighth: Authorizing the Attorney General – or his deputy – to discuss with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime regarding a draft memorandum of understanding between the Public Prosecution of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Ninth: Approving – in principle – an establishment of a national centre for marine information.

Tenth: Approving the real estate contributions bylaw.

Eleventh: Approving the organization of the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts.

Twelfth: Approving to establish the Ministerial Committee of Traffic Safety as the authorized representative body of the Kingdom, responsible for liaising with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations on matters pertaining to the implementation of the national strategic plan for traffic safety. This includes addressing issues related to the Stockholm Declaration and the Political Declaration on Road Safety.

Thirteen: Approving promotions at the 15th and 14th ranks.

The Cabinet also reviewed several issues on its agenda and took necessary procedures regarding them.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Vice President of the Supreme Space Council and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Space Commission, Eng. Abdullah Bin Amer Al-Swaha, has extended sincere congratulations to Saudi Arabia’s leadership on the arrival of Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Alqarni to the International Space Station (ISS).

Al-Swaha congratulates the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and President of the Supreme Space Council, on this momentous occasion.

He applauds the historic arrival of Al-Qarni and Barnawi as the first Saudi, Arab, and Muslim astronauts to reach the ISS. As part of the crew of the Ax-2 mission, they will conduct 14 groundbreaking scientific research experiments that will serve humanity.

Al-Swaha emphasizes that this achievement and the subsequent opportunities are the results of the unwavering support provided to the Saudi Space Commission and the Kingdom’s astronaut program by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. He highlights that this significant step aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, empowering the Kingdom to embark on a new scientific exploration and contributions era.

These contributions will elevate the Kingdom’s position in the global race for space and its technologies, solidifying its presence among nations investing in space sciences.

Al-Swaha said he also prays to Almighty Allah for the safe return of the astronauts with the results of the scientific and pioneering experiments they accomplished to serve humanity, protect the planet and shape new horizons.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani attended the reception ceremony held on the occasion of Qatar Economic Forum 2023, Powered by Bloomberg at the Katara Towers: Fairmont and Raffles Hotels on Tuesday evening.

The reception ceremony was attended by HE President of the Republic of Rwanda Paul Kagame, HE President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan, HE President of Zanzibar Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, HE Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wazed, HE Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alikhan Ismailov and HE the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili.

The ceremony was also attended by a number of Their Excellencies the ministers from the sisterly and friendly countries, along with a number of senior businessmen, politicians, thinkers, academics and media professionals.

HH the Amir held a dinner banquet on the occasion of Qatar Economic Forum 2023, Powered by Bloomberg, in honor of Their Excellencies and heads of states and Governments and senior officials from various countries of the world participating in the Forum on Tuesday.

During the ceremony, HH the Amir discussed with Their Excellencies and heads of states a number of topics of shared interest. (QNA)

Source: Qatar News Agency

HE Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari met separately on Tuesday with a number of Their Excellencies Ministers and senior officials of financial and government institutions, on the sidelines of the third edition of Qatar Economic Forum.

HE Minister of Finance met with the founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies Michael Bloomberg, HE Minister of Finance of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed Abdullah Al-Jadaan, HE Minister of Economy and Planning of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Faisal Alibrahim, HE Minister of Finance of the Republic of Poland Magdalena Rzeczkowska.

HE Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari also met with HE Minister of State for Financial Affairs in the United Arab Emirates Muhammad Hadi Al Husseini, CEO of Standard Chartered Bill Winters, Global Chairman of PwC Robert Moritz, and HE Minister of Economy of Malaysia Rafizi Ramli.

The meetings discussed several topics of mutual interest as well as the most relevant economic, investment, and trade developments. (QNA)

Source: Qatar News Agency

HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Geoffrey Onyeama met with HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Nigeria Dr. Ali bin Ghanem Al Hajri.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral cooperation relations between the two countries. (QNA)

Source: Qatar News Agency