Saudi FM holds press conference in Washington

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said that the Camp David summit will focus on three main axes dealing with military cooperation, combating terrorism and confronting regional challenges, including the Iranian interventions in the affairs of the region, stressing that the participation of the Crown Prince and the Deputy Crown Prince in an event outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the same time is an unprecedented matter and a proof of the importance attached to the Camp David summit by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He pointed out that the summit aims to move strong and strategic relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States and the United States of America to a higher level.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs said in a press conference at the headquarters of the Saudi Embassy to the United States of America here last night that the summit will focus on three main axes.

He added, 'Strengthening of the military cooperation between the United States and GCC countries includes facilitating the transfer of technology, weapons, training, joint exercises, and strengthening of the military capabilities of the GCC countries, in addition to a number of technical issues in this context.'

He pointed out that the second axis deals with the fight against terrorism and discussion of further measures to strengthen bilateral relations in this aspect, noting that the third axis deals with how to confront regional challenges and how to proceed forward with regard to the situations in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Libya and strengthening the efforts of both sides regarding the achievement of stability in these countries, and how to confront Iran's interventions in the affairs of the region in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere in the region.

Al-Jubeir added, 'We see Iranian support for terrorist organizations and facilitation for the actions of terrorist organizations, therefore the challenge will be in how to coordinate US and Gulf efforts collectively to confront these aggressive moves on the part of Iran.'

He pointed out that the US side will provide the Gulf side with explanation for Iran's nuclear talks.

Moreover, the Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that 'Participation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Premier and the Minister of Defense in an event outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the same time is an unprecedented matter and a proof of the importance attached by the Kingdom to the Camp David's summit.'

He further said that 'The areas of the summit's talks including the security and military affairs as well as other issues to which I have mentioned, are the responsibility of the Crown Prince and Minister of the Interior who is in charge of security and counter-terrorism; while the Minister of Defense is in charge of military affairs; and the summit reflects the agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America regarding the movement of relations between the USA and the Gulf Arab States to a different level. '

Answering reporters' questions about the Camp David's Summit, the Minister said that the summit will focus on exploring ways to strengthen the US-GCC relationships and transfer them to a higher level than it was in the past, expecting that working groups may attend the summit so as to work on a number of issues such as military and security issues, technology transfer and intensifying joint military training and drills.

Minister Al-Jubeir added that 'Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has strategic relationships with the United States of America since 1945 and they become stronger and more firm over with time and we have no doubt in the USA's commitment to the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.'

In response to a question about the ways of addressing Iranian interference in the region's affairs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said 'Both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America consider the best of what they can do together to confront Iran's negative activities in the Middle East and what we can do to counter what is being carried out by Iran in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. We have some ideas that we will submit on the table and I'm sure that the US administration has also some of the ideas to be submitted' at the Camp David summit.'

On the Yemeni affairs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs made clear that the cease-fire in Yemen for five days for the delivery of humanitarian aid in Yemen may be extended if it succeeds and Houthis and their allies wouldn't engage in hostile activities.