Day: May 22, 2023

In an implementation of the directives of 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 and Prime Minister, the Syrian Siamese twins "Ihsan and Bassam" arrived in Riyadh today, accompanied by their parents, after being transported from Ankara, Turkiye via an air medical evacuation plane.

Upon their arrival, the twins were transferred to the King Abdullah Specialist Hospital for Children, under the Ministry of National Guard, where a specialized medical team will assess their condition and explore the possibility of separating them.

Advisor at the Royal Court, Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), and Head of the Medical and Surgical Team, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah, expressed gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince for this humanitarian initiative. He highlighted that it exemplifies the Kingdom's humanitarian efforts to assist those in need worldwide, without discrimination. He also acknowledged their interest and support for the Saudi program to separate conjoined twins.

Dr. Al Rabeeah emphasized that this program showcases the medical excellence of Saudi Arabia, aligning with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to advance the healthcare sector.

The parents of the Syrian twins expressed their joy and extended sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince for their kind gesture.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The first session of the Saudi-Sri Lankan committee was concluded under the presence of the Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labor Dr. Abdullah Abuthnain, as the head of the Saudi side, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Tharaka Balasuriya, as the head of the Sri Lankan side, in the presence of Saudi Ambassador to Sri Lanka Khaled Al-Qahtani, and Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pakeer Mohideen Amza. Government officials and businessmen from both sides also attended the committee meetings.

The Saudi and Sri Lankan delegations reached an agreement to strengthen bilateral cooperation across multiple areas following the successful completion of 65 items spanning 20 diverse fields. These fields include security, judiciary, labour, trade, industry, investment, energy, finance, economy, transportation, communications, agriculture, education, health, sports, culture, tourism, religious affairs, media, and humanitarian work.

During his closing remarks, Dr. Abuthnain commended the efforts made by both sides during the sub-committee meetings, which laid a solid foundation for joint cooperation between the two countries. He expressed gratitude to Balasuriya for his significant contributions to the success of the committee and conveyed the Saudi delegation's enthusiasm for the second session to be held in Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka.

In his closing remarks, Balasuriya expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the warm hospitality extended to the Sri Lankan delegation during their stay in Riyadh. He emphasized the importance of continued efforts and cooperation from both sides to implement the recommendations of the joint committee and build upon them during the second joint committee meeting in Sri Lanka.

After the session, both sides signed the minutes of the joint committee meetings and emphasized the importance of following up on the recommendations to strengthen bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual importance.

The committee commenced its work on Sunday, May 21, 2023, with a series of workshops aimed at strengthening ties and fulfilling the aspirations of the people, leaders, and governments of both nations.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Saudi Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Osama bin Ahmed Nuqali, met with the newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Fawzia bint Abdullah Zainal, today.

Ambassador Nuqali extended his congratulations to Ambassador Zainal on her recent appointment as Bahrain's Ambassador to Egypt.

During the meeting, they engaged in friendly discussions and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) carried out the distribution of various relief materials, including foodstuffs and shelter supplies, to 1,565 displaced families in Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira State in the Republic of Sudan.

This initiative is part of the Saudi relief airlift, led by KSrelief, aimed at assisting the Sudanese people, following the directives of 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 and Prime Minister.

This comes within the framework of the Saudi role to stand with all countries in times of hardship.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Iraq and Egypt discussed cooperation in the fields of tourism and antiquities.

A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Iraqi Ambassador in Cairo, his permanent representative to the Arab League, Ahmed Nayef Rashid al-Dulaimi, met with the Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Ahmed Issa, today, Monday, at the Ministry's headquarters, to discuss aspects of joint cooperation between the two brotherly countries in the tourism and archaeological fields.

During the meeting, the Ambassador thanked the Minister for the recent facilities launched by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities for the entry of Iraqi citizens into Egyptian territory, asking for a reduction in visa prices for Iraqi tourists and returning them to the amount that ranged from 30-50 US dollars as was the case in previous years. Also, increasing Egyptian tourism companies operating in Iraq and granting powers to Iraqi tourism companies, which makes it easier for the Iraqi citizen to obtain a visa.

During the meeting, according to the statement, indicators of the incoming tourist movement from Iraq to Egypt were reviewed, in addition to discussing ways to push more of this tourism movement, allowing Iraqi tourists to enjoy the diverse and unique tourism and archaeological elements that the Egyptian tourist destination enjoys.

According to the statement, ways to develop the contractual framework between the two countries were also discussed in light of draft memorandums of understanding in the field of tourism and antiquities.

For his part, the Egyptian Minister appreciated the close relations between Egypt and Iraq, which witness cooperation in many fields, especially tourism and antiquities.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency