Readout of the Secretary-General’s meeting with H.E. Mr. Adel Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Adel Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  The Secretary-General noted with appreciation the support of Saudi Arabia to the UN-facilitated peace talks on Yemen currently underway in Kuwait.  He also asked for Saudi support to ensure that the cessation of hostilities continue to hold, including during the holy month of Ramadan, so that humanitarian aid is able to reach the vulnerable. On Syria, the Secretary-General noted the need for urgent progress in the context of intra-Syrian negotiations as well as for a clear, strong voice by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) regarding taking potential actions against violators of the Cessation of Hostilities.  The Secretary-General thanked the generosity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to humanitarian causes, especially for its contribution of $19 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency’s (UNRWA’s) education programmes last year.  The Secretary-General has sought an additional contribution to UNRWA’s core education programmes at a similar level to last year, so that the Agency can continue to provide timely, essential aid to half a million Palestinian refugees in the Middle East.

The Secretary-General also urged the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to sign and ratify the Paris Agreement on Climate Change before the end of the year.