Saudi Arabia in focusMonthly Newsletter of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Rome

On April 30, the Ideological Warfare Center (IWD), a subsidiary of the

Saudi Ministry of  Defence, has launched an extensive project to counter

and confront the roots of  the extremism ideology and promotes the true

understanding of Islam.  IWC's projet aims at creating  in-depth and

proven understanding of the issue of  extremism, inoculating youth

against extremist thoughts and dismantling the means used by terrorism

to recruit its followers. 

The IWC intends to develop studies and researches,  in  cooperation with

domestic and international institutions and agencies, to  determine the age

groups targeted by extremist groups and understanding the tools and the

methodologies used by extremist groups.

It will also implement effective plans to promote  moderation, tolerance,

dialogue and understanding values within the context of the belief in

diversity. The IWC is staffed with experienced experts from Saudi Arabia

and abroad in view of the international goals of the IWC . The Center

provides intellectual initiatives to the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism

Coalition to combat terrorism.  

For ore information:  www.fekerKSA.org

In this issue

COUNTERTERRORISM

Saudi Arabian Embassy in Rome Media Office

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The Ideological Warfare Center launched an extensive project against terrorism

REGIONAL SECURITY

HUMANITARIAN AID

-Launch of new projects against extremism and terrrosim   -Thwarted a terrorist attempt to blow up Aramco's platform  -White Paper: Saudi Arabia and counterterrism

-Minister Al Jubair participated in the

Like-minded meeting on Syria held in

Lucca, Italy.

-Saudi Pledge $150 million to Yemen

MONTHLY EXTRA

-Initiatives to promote Saudi Cultural Heritage

01 APRIL 2017 | ISSUE 1

APRIL 2017 | ISSUE 102

New Report Saudi Arabia and Counterterrorism

On April, 25, Saudi authorities thwarted a terrorist attempt to blow up Aramco’s platform and station for the

distribution of oil products in Jazan. The attempt used a booby-trapped boat,  fully fitted with extremely explosive

material and remotely controlled from one of the small Islands in the Yemeni national waters; The Guards fired at th

Boat’s engine and disabled it some and a half nautical miles off its target. The Interior Ministry stressed its readiness to

protect the Kingdom's land and sea borders and foil such terrorist attempts which are supported by the iran-backed

Houthi militias seeking to threaten security of the Kingdom's water lanes and naval facilities.

King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue ( KACND) launched a supporting strategy to enhance the security

efforts in combating terrorism and extremism in Saudi Arabia. The strategy is the result of  both the intellectual and

security achievements and also of  the concerted efforts of  the community institutions and government to combat

terrorism and extremism. The Center focuses on developing  training programs and promoting dialogue, also

through social media, in order to spread awareness and education among the youth. The center has recently

launched a number of programs aiming at bringing different points of view closer on issues with multiple perspective

to promote coexistence, understanding and cooperation.

For ore information:  www.kacnd.org

King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue launched a supporting strategy to enhance the efforts against extremism

Saudi authorities have published an up-to-date report that provides a

comprehensive overview of  Saudi Arabia's commitments to

combating terrorism.

The publication not only focuses on Saudi Arabia's close cooperation

with the international community to fight Daesh (ISIS), Al-Qaeda

and affiliated cells, but also sheds light on programs launched by the

Kingdom to counter terrorist financing and on the ideological battle

engaged by the Kingdom against the narrative that drives vulnerable

individuals to embrace terrorism.

Read here  the report

Saudi authorities foiled a terrorist attempt to blow up Aramco's platform

Counterterrorism

APRIL 2017 | ISSUE 103

Min. Al Jubeir attended the "Like-minded meeting on Syria" held in Lucca The Saudi Minister of  Foreign Affairs Mr. Adel Al

Jubeir, under the invitation of  his italian omologue,

Min. Angelino Alfano, attended  the "Like-minded

Meeting on Syria" that was held in Lucca (Italy), in the

context of the G7, on April 11, 2017.

He attended along with his delegation composed by

Dr. Adel Mirdad, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs

for Political and Economic Affairs, and H.E the Dr.

Rayed Krimly, Ambassador of the Kingdom in Italy

and Malta. Ministers of  Turkey, United Arab

Emirates, Jordan and Qatar were also invited to

attend. During the meeting, the leaders discussed

latest developments at the Syrian arena and the

Syrian regime's use of internationally prohibited

weapons.

 This meeting, attended also by the High

Representative of the European Union for Foreign

Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, was

definened by Minister Angelino Alfano very

profitable. The gathering took place on the eve of the

encounter between the US Secretary of State Tillerson

and his Russian counterpart to discuss on the Syrian

crisis. Minister Adel Al-Jubeir discussed Syria’s future

with his Russian counterpart in Moscow on 26 April

2017, after which he affirmed that Riyadh still believe

there is no political future for President Bashar Al-

Assad. They discusse about the cooperation between

the two countries in fighting extremism and terrorism

and ways of strengthening this cooperation for the

international security. 

Regional Security

The EU HR/VP Federica Mogherini, the saudi FM Adil Al Jubeir, the italian FM Angelino Alfano and the saudi Ambassador to Rome and Malta, Dr. Rayed Krimly at the Like-minded meeting on Syria in Lucca   

APRIL 2017 | ISSUE 104

Saudi Arabia pledged $ 150 million to support YemenAt the  hight-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen 2017, held in Geneva on 25 April

2017, Saudi Arabia pledged $150 million to support the humanitarian assistance projects in Yemen. The

conference, co-sponsored by the United Nations, Switzerland and Sweden, raised pledges for over half of the

$2.1 billion sought by the U.N. this year in an appeal that was only 15 percent funded previously.

The Kingdom’s humanitarian relief projects are driven by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief

Centre, (KSRelief). Since 2015, The Center provided €548 million in humanitarian and development aid to all

governorates of  Yemen, including the areas controlled by Houthis. KSrelief  implemented 124 projects, in

 collaboration with 81 local and international organization partners,  in various fields including relief,

humanitarian and shelter assistance, environmental sanitation programs, agricultural and water support

programs.

For ore information:  www.ksrelief.org 

Humanitarian Aid

Here more infografics on the KSrelief's projects in Yemen

C U L T U R A L H E R I T A G E

The Royal commission for Jubail opened a cultural festival, called " The Nation's Festival", which took place in Jubail from April 9, 2017. The five days event included eight pavillons with areas feauturing local villages, world cuisine and folklore. There were also daily dialogue session offered by the  King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue (KACND) as well as theater activities and daily drawings. The event aimed to strengthen Jubail's industrial position, attract more investements and achieve the vision and goal of the industrial city.

King Abdulaziz University (KAU)'s international students organized the Two-day Heritage of People and Cultural Festival 2017, wich took place on mid- April in Jeddah. The event hosted 22 stall of participating countries from the Middle East, Asia and Africa, decorated with traditional clothes, antiques textiles and popular cuisine products.

T a k i n g p r i d e   o f o u r

n a t i o n a l   i d e n t i t y

Montly Extra

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weekly Newsletters

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Heritage of People andCultural Festival

On April 29, Taif University organized the first workshop to raise awareness of the cultural heritage in the Kingdom, in partnership with the General Authority for Toursim and National Heritage (SCTH). The University stressed the  importance of holding the workshop with the participation of specialists in this field to exchange views and on best practices that contribute to supporting the efforts of the SCTH in this vital and important field. 

Raising Awareness on Cultural Heritage

Find more on Cultural Heritage in Saudi Arabia

HERE

Watch the documentary Roads of Arabia

HERE

Saudi Vision 2030 and Cultural Heritage

HERE

APRIL 2017 | ISSUE 105