The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirmed that it stands on a great legacy of the principles and constants on which its foreign policy is based, topped by its permanent trend towards peaceful solutions to disputes, the prevention of their escalation, and the adoption of mediation efforts. This came in the speech of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia delivered today by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, before the General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly at its 73rd session in New York City, which reads as follows: In the name of Allah the Merciful, Your Majesties, Excellencies, and Highnesses, His Excellency the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations Mr. Secretary-General of the United Nations Ladies and Gentlemen May the peace of Allah be upon of you, It is great pleasure to extend my sincere congratulations to Madam Maria Fernanda Espinosa for her election as President of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, wishing her success in the performance of her duties. I would also like to thank my predecessor Mr. Miroslav Lajcak, the President of the previous session for his efforts. I would also like to pay tribute to the work that undertaken by Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres. Madam President: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stands on noble heritage of principles and constants on which its foreign policy is based, includes a focus on the permanent trend towards peaceful solutions to disputes, preventing their escalation, and the adoption of mediation efforts. The peace agreement that was signed in Jeddah between the two countries of Ethiopia and Eritrea, under the sponsorship of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, which ended the longest conflict in the African continent, as well as sponsorship of the historic meeting between the leaders of the States of Eritrea and Djibouti after a 10-year break, is a testament to the responsible political role that my country embodies to promote international peace and security. Madam President, Ladies, and Gentlemen, The Palestinian cause was and still the central and fundamental issue of my country and the Islamic world, based on its belief in the Palestinian right to establish an independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem, Al-Quds, as its capital, based on the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab peace initiative. We, therefore, renew our call to intensify sincere efforts to end the longest conflict in the region. Madam President: Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist militia continues to fire Iranian-manufactured ballistic missiles against the cities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with 199 missiles, in addition to their destabilizing activities on the security and safety of maritime navigation in Bab-el-Mandeb area and the Red Sea. My country reaffirms its commitment to the importance of a political solution to the situation in Yemen, based on the three references: (the Gulf Initiative, the outputs of the Yemeni national dialogue, and Security Council resolution 2216.) We shall continue to provide and facilitate all humanitarian actions to alleviate the tragedy of Yemeni people, as well as our keenness to support the Yemeni economy, the latest of which is a deposit of two billion dollars to the Central Bank of Yemen, which was ordered by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. That is bringing the total humanitarian support provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the past four years to Yemen more than $13 billion. -- More 13:39 LOCAL TIME 10:39 GMT 0004 www.spa.gov.sa/1820289
