Kuwait ready for Security Council seat if necessary
Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal arrived in Kuwait yesterday for talks that focused on topics that will be discussed in the upcoming Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Kuwait, but did not address the Kingdom’s rejection of a United Nations Security Council seat. This was reported by a Kuwaiti daily yesterday quoting diplomatic sources who indicated that “Saudi Arabia is still a Security Council member practically, technically and realistically as the kingdom is yet to officially announce its withdrawal”. While indicating that Saudi Arabia is ‘unlikely’ to change its position, the sources were asked about Kuwait being a possible replacement should that happen. “If Riyadh officially withdraws, Kuwait is considered the most qualified country for the post,” said the sources who spoke to Al-Qabas on the condition of anonymity.
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US-Saudi relations enter crucial phase
Source: Arab News (Read full story)
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When [U.S. President Barack] Obama assumed office in January 2009, he started out on the right path with promises, which were aimed at correcting the mistakes of the past and restoring credibility in US policy. In the Kingdom [of Saudi Arabia], there was the expectation of a rational policy coupled with a more justified and legitimate use of US military power. However, with Obama now well into his second term in office, it can only be stated that those expectations have been left unfulfilled. Instead of a more balanced US approach that combines the elements of US political and military power, it appears that the Obama administration has chosen to adopt the other extreme position as that of the Bush presidency. The result as seen from Riyadh is a “Paper Tiger President” in the White House.
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Iran talks: Do we want a deal or a war?
Source: CNN (Read full story)
Talks with Iran over its nuclear program resume Thursday. Make no mistake: The deal the Obama administration is pursuing with Iran over its nuclear program is a good deal. It will leave Iran with neither a nuclear weapon nor an undetectable breakout capability. And by ensuring that the deal also is a win for Iran, Tehran won’t have incentives to cheat and violate the agreement. Based on conversations with diplomats on both sides of the table, I believe it is a durable deal that enhances America’s security and nonproliferation goals while making Iran much less hostile and U.S. allies in the region much more safe. And make no mistake about the flip side: The alternative to this deal — the continuation of the sanctions path — will see Iran continue to inch toward a nuclear weapons option while the U.S. and Iran gravitate toward a disastrous military confrontation. It’s either a deal or another war in the Middle East. Those are the stakes.
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Police ferret out illegals from hide-outs
Source: Arab News (Read full story)
The Kingdom’s police and security agencies arrested 11,756 violators of residency and labor laws on the third day of the clampdown on illegal workers across the country, according to reports from Makkah, Jeddah, Al-Jouf, Northern Border Province, Renia, Dhahran Al-Janoub and Sajer. Lt. Nawaf Al-Bouq, spokesman of Jeddah police, said officers raided the hide-outs of illegal workers, which detectives had earlier identified. “The raids netted 3,918 persons on the first day, while 3,877 violators were arrested on the second day. The operations are continuing as planned,” he said. He said the city’s detention center has been refurbished to hold large numbers of detainees of both sexes. “The detention facility has an unlimited capacity and is guarded by security on all sides. Medical, Civil Defense, first aid, utilities and humanitarian services are available around the clock.”
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Sultanate elected to top Unesco position
Source: Oman Tribune (Read full story)
The Sultanate was elected as Vice-President of the General Conference of the Unesco from the Arab Region at the 37th session of the body’s general conference being held in Paris. HE Dr Madiha Bint Ahmed Al Shibaniyah, Minister of Education and Chairperson of the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science headed the Sultanate’s delegation where representatives from more than 190 member states of the organisation are taking part in the deliberations that will continue till November 20.
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Saudi domestic tourism flights touch 33 million
Source: Arab News (Read full story)
Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), said on Tuesday that there were 33 million domestic flights for local tourists in 2012, providing 1.126 million direct and indirect jobs in this sector. Prince Sultan was speaking at the high-profile World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Travel Market (WTM) summit in London in which delegates from 149 countries, including Saudi Arabia, participated. Prince Sultan also attended the 5th G-20 Tourism Ministerial Meeting held in London. During a panel discussion entitled “How to bridge the gap between tourism and aviation” held at the ExCel Exhibitions Center in London, Prince Sultan told participants that the Kingdom had seen a dramatic increase in domestic tourism.
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