Saudi Arabia, France make their move in Lebanon

Source: Al-Monitor (Read full story)

The Saudi decision to give $3 billion in aid to the Lebanese army to purchase French weapons and ammunition came as a surprise to both supporters and opponents of the move. The amount is the highest ever to the army, but the most alluring aspect of the initiative is not limited to the allocated sum. In fact, rarely has the Lebanese state received any donations. Rather, the bigger surprise is the emerging Saudi-French partnership, which constitutes a turning point in the Middle East. With the shrinking American role in the area, a void has opened that regional forces and terrorist organizations from everywhere are rushing to fill.

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Saudi-US ties ‘critical to cement political transitions in Mideast’

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah held wide-ranging talks on Sunday with visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry, aiming to find common grounds over the US policy on the Israeli-Palestine conflict, Syria and Iran.   Kerry also met Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, said Johann Schmonsees, a spokesman of the US Embassy.  After holding talks, Kerry said strengthening the US-Saudi partnership was critical to Middle Eastern security and stability and cementing tentative political transitions around the region.   Kerry conveyed the greetings of US President Barack Obama to the king, who reciprocated.

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Tests prove held man is top Saudi militant linked with Iran embassy attack in Beirut

Source: The National (Read full story)

DNA tests yesterday showed that the man detained in Beirut and suspected in the Iran embassy bombing is the Saudi commander of an Al Qaeda-linked group.  The tests confirmed that the detained man is Majid Al Majid, the commander of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, the army said yesterday.  The group had claimed responsibility for a number of attacks, including the November 19 twin bombings at the Iranian embassy in Beirut that killed at least 23 people and wounded dozens.  Al Majid is being held in a military hospital because “he is in poor health”, a medical official said.

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It is forbidden to use phones while driving, says mufti

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

It is forbidden to use phones while driving because of the danger of causing accidents, the Eastern Province’s mufti said here recently.  Khalaf bin Mohammed Al-Mutlaq was speaking to the media here during the launch of a campaign entitled “Don’t Be Captive to Your Mobile.”  He also warned that young people are becoming addicted to the technology on their smart phones, distracting them from their school and religious duties.  “It is forbidden to drive and use your mobile because of the risks involved.”

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Nuclear energy’s benefits becoming more obvious, says UAE

Source: The National (Read full story)

Nuclear energy will account for carbon dioxide savings of 3.2 gigatonnes a year by 2050, a report says.  The report, by the International Atomic Energy Agency, said the drop in damaging greenhouse gas emissions would come despite increased production to cater for greater global demand.  “Nuclear energy is a source of energy that is available today and it has almost negligible carbon dioxide emissions compared to other hydrocarbon sources,” said Hamad Al Kaabi, the UAE’s permanent ambassador to the IAEA.

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Saudi envoy: West’s policies on Syria and Iran dangerous gamble

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

Saudi Arabia is prepared to act on its own to safeguard security in the region, the Saudi ambassador to Britain has said in a commentary published in the New York Times.  Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf termed the West’s policies on Iran and Syria as a dangerous gamble. “We believe that many of the West’s policies on both Iran and Syria risk the stability and security of the Middle East,” the ambassador wrote. “This is a dangerous gamble, about which we cannot remain silent, and will not stand idly by,” he stated.  Citing Iran’s backing for Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime, he said “rather than challenging the Syrian and Iranian governments, some of our Western partners have refused to take much-needed action against them.

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Kuwait Parliament Speaker praises deeply-rooted Gulf-EU relations

Source: Kuwait News Agency (Read full story)

Kuwait’s National Assembly (Parliament) Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim lauded Tuesday the strong and historic ties between Gulf Cooperation Council member states (GCC) and Europe.  “Relations between the GCC countries and Europe are distinguished in all domains,” Al-Ghanim told KUNA following a meeting with the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz.  He went on to say that “GCC states are the fifth biggest trade partner to the European Union.” Al-Ghanim added that GCC states are about to unify economic legislations to pave the way for broader and strategic partnership with the EU countries.

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Saudi Arabia will go it alone

Source: New York Times (Read full story)

Saudi Arabia has been friends with our Western partners for decades; for some, like the United Kingdom where I [Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz Al Saud] serve as ambassador, for almost a century. These are strategic alliances that benefit us both. Recently, these relationships have been tested — principally because of differences over Iran and Syria. We believe that many of the West’s policies on both Iran and Syria risk the stability and security of the Middle East. This is a dangerous gamble, about which we cannot remain silent, and will not stand idly by.  … While international efforts have been taken to remove the weapons of mass destruction used by the murderous regime of Bashar al-Assad, surely the West must see that the regime itself remains the greatest weapon of mass destruction of all?

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