JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said that the Kingdom will continue to support the legitimate rights of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar.

Adel Al-Jubeir was speaking at a high-level meeting on the Rohingya on Friday, on the sidelines of the agenda of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

He said: “The Kingdom’s position was not made on the spur of the moment, but from the moment this minority started suffering all forms of violations and displacement, decades ago. Although many efforts have been made in this context, these efforts remain short of what is needed to ensure the safety and legitimate rights of this minority.”

He added: “The Kingdom condemns all forms of grave violations and abuses against the Rohingya minority and urges the international community and the UN organizations to exert more efforts to put an end to this misery, provide urgent humanitarian aids, ensure their delivery to the affected and needy people and hold the Myanmar government accountable for its actions.”

Al-Jubeir also met his British counterpart, Jeremy Hunt, at the headquarters of the UK permanent mission to the UN in New York, as well as his Angolan counterpart, Manuel Augusto. The two meetings discussed bilateral relations and issues of common interest at the regional and international level. A memorandum of cooperation between Angola and the Saudi Foreign Ministry was signed.

Al-Jubeir also visited the UN Social Media Center, where he was received by Nancy Groves, the center’s manager.

Al-Jubair told UN social media that Saudi Arabia had supported Yemen’s Central Bank and provided direct humanitarian aid; $13 billion was given to Yemen in the past four years, representing the world’s biggest donation by one country.

He ascertained that the Kingdom is among the largest donors to developing countries and UN organizations, where it has provided more than 100 tons of humanitarian aid for the Rohingya and received more than 300,000 refugees.

The Kingdom has worked hard to end Africa’s longest conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which will contribute to the security and stability of the Red Sea and open the doors for investment and trade, improving living conditions in Red Sea states and especially in the Horn of Africa region, he said.

He stressed the importance of shifting to a political phase in the Syrian conflict to preserve its unity and independence and rid it of foreign militias.

Al-Jubeir took part in the ministerial meeting of the Small Group on Syria, held at the invitation of France. He also took part in the meeting of the Quartet Committee on Yemen, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the UK and the US.