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Riyadh: Universality of Human Rights Doesn’t Go Against Values Upheld in Saudi Arabia | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Faisal Al Nasser/Reuters


Geneva- Saudi Arabia reiterated its firm position on the universality of human rights, an endorsement which presents no “imposition to principles and values held by the true Islamic faith.”

Saudi Ambassador to UN Dr. AbdulAziz Al Wasil, speaking to the 36th session of the of the Human Rights Council, stressed the Kingdom’s keenness to continue and strengthen cooperation with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, pointing to the agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) which the Kingdom concluded with the Commission as an important step in this regard, noting that the programs implemented in cooperation with the Commission aim to build national capabilities for the promotion and protection of human rights.

Ambassador Wasil added that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, based on its firm positions, international commitments, and close ties with the Yemeni people, has been one of the largest donors to Yemen and significantly contributed to the humanitarian assistance to alleviate the sufferings of the brotherly Yemeni people through programs and partnerships with regional and international governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations, whereas the latest one was allocation of $66 million to fight the cholera epidemic, in addition to other humanitarian assistance in kind, expressing his deep regret over the emergence of the cholera epidemic and the urgent need for food and medicine in some areas of Yemen.

The Ambassador pointed out that insurgency-held areas are disease infested areas, with cholera spreading. They also present the number of zones which have registered dire humanitarian situation and need an ever-increasing need for assistance.

According to the diplomat, the increased need for humanitarian assistance is caused by militia activity— Iran-allied militiamen are held accountable for crimes such as looting humanitarian aid and the disruption and obstruction of humanitarian work and the sale of humanitarian aid to finance their military actions.

He called on international organizations operating in Yemen to put pressure on the coup militias to facilitate and deliver humanitarian assistance to the intended beneficiaries.

Wasil said Bahrain has suffered, and is still suffering, from foreign interference trying to destabilize domestic security and divide national unity. Bahrain is exerting concrete and genuine efforts to protect human rights in the framework of its sovereign right to defend its security and stability against any external interference or terror acts, he said.

On Palestine, he said that for more than six decades, the Palestinian people have been constantly subjected to gross human rights violations.

In this context, he renewed the call on the international community to live up to its responsibility and take the necessary arrangements to end the sufferings of the Palestinian people.

He also reaffirmed the right of the Palestine people to self-determination and establishment of their independent state with Al-Quds as its capital.