SAUDIS AFFIRM NEED TO PREVENT POSSIBLE I.S. RETURN
Sheikh Salem Abdullah leads Kuwait delegation

RIYADH, June 8, (Agencies): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday assured his country’s commitment to continue helping facilitate the security and stability of the GCC. During his meeting with the GCC ministerial council, Blinken said the region is of grave importance to Washington, pointing to his nation’s continued efforts to strengthen relations as part of its diplomatic policies agenda. He also mentioned that the GCC is enthralled with deep-rooted relations with the US and are able to overcome all hindrances, while also stressing the need to coordinate and cooperate on issues like food security, renewable energy, and climate change.

The Iranian agenda is being pragmatically examined, added Blinken, as the nuclear program continues to be closely monitored. The crisis in Yemen and Syria needs to be addressed with a political solution to end the conflicts in order to pave way for peace and security in the region, he added. On the Palestinian issue, he also mentioned his nation is working on a consensual solution that could end the ongoing Palestinian - Israeli conflict. Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah represented his country at the ministerial meeting of the GCC-US Strategic Partnership, held at the GCC Secretariat in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The meeting, which also gathered US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, reviewed various aspects of cooperation with emphasis on the political and security relations. Both sides discussed the outcomes of the joint ad hoc committees and the efforts to deepen the exemplary relations.

They explored ways to tap into the promising opportunity in different areas of cooperation to realize the joint aspirations and serve the common interest. On regional issues, both sides mulled over ways to stabilize Syria, Yemen and Sudan as well as the latest developments of the situation in Iran. They stressed the need to double efforts for reaching a durable solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which could contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the Middle East. Blinken, stressed Thursday, that his country will continue to work to defeat the so-called Islamic State/ Dasesh, and will provide funding to address weaknesses exploited by the extremist organization. In a speech during the conference of the Global Coalition against Islamic State/Daesh held in Riyadh, the US Secretary affirmed the need for countries to take back their citizens from IS militants, saying foreign militants remaining in the camps threatens the return of the organization. Afghanistan and some African regions witnessed a rise in IS attacks, calling for coordination and efforts to get rid of this extremist organization, he added. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan affirmed the need to keep pursuing the Islamic State (IS) to prevent any possible return of the terrorist group.

The remarks came during a speech at the conference of the Global Coalition against Islamic State/Daesh, held in Saudi Arabia on Thursday. He underlined Saudi’s continuous efforts to tackle any threat of terrorism and extremism, noting the growing threat of (IS) in Khorasan, Afghanistan and in Africa. The minister also affirmed Saudi’s efforts to terminate all sources of funding terrorism and cooperate with the international community to protect regional and international security. The coalition was established in 2014 to fight IS through military operations in Iraq and Syria.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is to lead the Africa Focus Group to confront dangers of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in Africa, said Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Thursday. This came in remarks at the conference of the Global Coalition against Islamic State/Daesh, held in Saudi Arabia on Thursday. The Saudi Minister noted that the Kingdom will join the Focus Group, which includes the US, Morocco, Italy and Niger. He also welcomed the establishment of a focus group concerned with combating IS in Khorasan Province in Afghanistan, saying that it would help in limiting presence and spread of the terrorist organization in those areas.

Blinken said Thursday that the U.S. would provide nearly $150 million in aid for areas in Syria and Iraq that were liberated from the Islamic State extremist group. He spoke at a ministerial conference hosted by Saudi Arabia on combatting the group, which no longer controls any territory - but whose affiliates still carry out attacks across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.