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KSA: ‘Crimes against Humanity Are Happening in Aleppo’ | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Evacuees from a rebel-held area of Aleppo arrive at insurgent-held al-Rashideen, Syria December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Ammar Abdullah


Riyadh-The Saudi Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, condemned on Monday at al-Yamamah Palace the continuing brutal shelling of the city of Aleppo, exposing innocent people to killing, siege, starvation, displacement and violation of their basic human rights.

The Cabinet stressed the importance of the U.N. Security Council assuming its responsibilities stipulated in the U.N. Charter and its duties in maintaining international peace and security.

It reviewed various Arab and international efforts on the latest developments in the region, especially the heinous massacres being committed in Aleppo that are considered crimes against humanity.

It highlighted in this context, the numerous contacts recently made by the Kingdom with regional and international active parties in which it expressed its positions and underscored the importance of immediate action to stop the massacres.

The Cabinet expressed the Kingdom’s strong condemnation of the terrorist act in the city of Aden, the attack in Jordanian Karak and the bombing near the Turkish University of Erciyes, resulting in victims and injuries.

It also expressed extended condolences to the families of the victims and the governments and peoples of Yemen, Jordan and Turkey.

Moreover, the Cabinet appreciated the King’s order to take the necessary actions to correct the status of the Yemeni people residing in the Kingdom and holding “visitor’s identity” with an extension for another six months.

During the session, it reiterated the Kingdom’s unwavering stance on the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Following the Cabinet’s session, Saudi Minister of Culture and Information Adel Al-Turaifi said in a press statement for SPA that the Cabinet stressed the annual address of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in inaugurating the works of the first year of the seventh session of the Shoura Council and its fundamentals with respect to the Kingdom’s internal and external policies.

He explained the Cabinet’s aspirations for greater stability, prosperity and diversification of sources of income and raising the society’s productivity to achieve development, meet the needs of the people and preserve the rights of future generations.

He further noted that it called on pursuing the approach of cooperation with the international community to achieve world peace and promote interaction with peoples to consolidate the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

The Cabinet also reviewed scientific and cultural activities, emphasizing that the King’s patronage of the honoring ceremony of the winners of the King Khaled Award in its 6th version reflects continued support for this award to achieve its humanitarian and social developmental mission.

The Cabinet later approved a series of decisions that include a cooperation agreement between the Kingdom and Tajikistan in the area of fighting crime; a memorandum of understanding in civil defense with Tunisia; and a cooperation agreement between the Kingdom and Algeria in the area of maritime transport.