Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Calls for Regional Tension Reduction at NAM Anniversary Meeting in Belgrade

BELGRADE — On behalf of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Eng. Waleed Al-Kheraiji attended the high-level meeting commemorating the 65th anniversary of the first conference of the Non-Aligned Movement, held in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia.

Addressing the meeting, Al-Kheraiji said that Saudi Arabia believes that reducing tensions is not a temporary goal, but rather provides countries with an opportunity to redirect their priorities toward sustainable development and improving the lives of their people. “From this standpoint, the Kingdom calls on the countries of the region to avoid policies that increase tensions and to work toward building common interests that make stability the foundation for development and provide the peoples of the region with broader opportunities to achieve their aspirations,” he said.

Al-Kheraiji expressed the Kingdom’s appreciation to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and his government for their commendable efforts in hosting the meeting at a time when the challenges facing the international community continue to grow.

The deputy minister stated that since contributing to the founding of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Saudi Arabia has remained committed to the principles upon which it was established, foremost among them preserving the sovereignty of states and their independent national decision-making, and rejecting the use of force as a means of resolving disputes. “This commitment is reflected in the Kingdom’s foreign policy, which has embraced dialogue in addressing international issues, worked to expand cooperative relations, and supported initiatives aimed at reducing the likelihood of conflict and strengthening international peace and security,” he said.

Al-Kheraiji affirmed that Saudi Arabia values the important foundation for joint international action represented by the NAM’s principles and objectives, as well as the responsible role it has played in supporting just causes, particularly its unwavering position on the Palestinian issue and its concern for the security and stability of the Middle East.

He stressed the importance of continued coordination through the United Nations and the NAM to preserve the priority of peaceful political solutions and promote adherence to international law in the face of policies of force and escalation, including ensuring freedom of navigation in international waterways, as recently affirmed by Security Council Resolution 2817.

Al-Kheraiji noted that the absence of political solutions is clearly evident in the Middle East, given the ongoing crimes committed by the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories. This is compounded by attacks on Syria, which constitute a flagrant violation of the rights of peoples and the sovereignty of states and are pushing the region toward further tension and instability.

He reiterated the Kingdom’s position that peace is the only option capable of providing lasting security for all countries and peoples of the region. He stressed that this goal cannot be achieved without expediting a just, comprehensive, and final settlement of the Palestinian issue.