(WASHINGTON, DC) – Saudi Ambassador to the United States Adel A. Al-Jubeir responded to a July 31 letter, co-signed by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) and more than 220 Members of the House of Representatives, to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. In the letter, the Members noted the Saudi-sponsored Arab Peace Initiative and urged Saudi Arabia to make a dramatic gesture towards Israel as a confidence building measure to promote peace.
(WASHINGTON, DC) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been rated as the 13th most economically competitive country in the world according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC)-World Bank annual Doing Business report issued this month. The report, Doing Business 2010: Reforming through Difficult Times, is based on data gathered from 183 countries from June 2008 to May 2009.
(WASHINGTON, DC) – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) today praised the strength of the Saudi economy in a public information notice, which also highlighted the Kingdom’s “leadership role in stabilizing world oil markets.” The IMF released the notice following its Executive Board’s Article IV consultation with the Kingdom which concluded on July 13, 2009.
(WASHINGTON, DC) – Highness Prince Saud Al-Faisal today met with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss a host of issues vital to both countries. The bilateral meeting and working lunch took place at the Department of State in Washington, DC.
During the meeting, Prince Saud emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to working towards peace in the Middle East and expressed the view that “a bold and historic step is required to end this conflict and divert the resources of the region from war and destruction to peace and development.”
(WASHINGTON, DC) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has signed an agreement with Sudan to donate more than $18 million for developmental and humanitarian projects in Darfur. Announcing the arrangement on July 21, Deputy President of the Saudi Red Crescent Society Fayez Al-Ahmadi said the money will be used to establish 21 water stations and 21 health units in Darfur. The aid will also fund nine health centers and provide emergency food support.
(WASHINGTON, DC) – United States Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner commended Saudi Arabia Tuesday for the steps it has taken to combat the financing of terrorist groups and the spread of nuclear weapons. Secretary Geithner, visiting Saudi Arabia for the first time since his appointment, addressed the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry on July 14. Following his address, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, received Secretary Geithner and his accompanying delegation at the King Fahd Cultural Center in Yanbu.
(WASHINGTON, DC) - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers ratified a law on July 13 that adopted a tougher stance on human trafficking. The new law will ban all forms of human trafficking and put in place more severe consequences, including a sentence of up to 15 years and/or a fine of up to $267,000.
(WASHINGTON, DC) - Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Justice released more details on the rulings announced on July 8, 2009 regarding 330 terror-suspects indicted on 179 terror-related cases.
(WASHINGTON, DC) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has delivered more than 100,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka in the past week. The Sri Lankan government received the second shipment of emergency assistance, including foodstuffs, medicines, rugs, blankets and tents, in Colombo today. The first shipment of supplies was delivered on July 8.
The emergency provisions delivered this week were contributed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to aid to the humanitarian crisis caused by the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans.
(WASHINGTON, DC) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was commended in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee for the government’s effective efforts to rehabilitate and deradicalize recently released Guantanamo Bay detainees. The comments came during a Committee hearing on July 7. Under the direction of the Minister of Interior, Saudi Arabia has institutionalized a comprehensive rehabilitation program to prepare former detainees for reintegration into the society.