WASHINGTON: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and US President Barack Obama held key talks at the White House in Washington on Friday. They discussed a number of international and regional issues.



The following is the full text of the joint statement that was issued after the talks:

At the invitation of US President Barack Obama, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman visited the United States and met with President Obama at the White House on Sept. 4, 2015. The two leaders had a positive and fruitful discussion in which they reviewed the enduring relationship between their countries. The relationship has grown deeper and stronger over the past seven decades in the political, economic, military, security, cultural and other spheres of mutual interest. The two leaders stressed the importance of continuing to bolster their strategic relationship for the benefit of the two governments and peoples. The US president noted the Kingdom’s leadership role in the Arab and Islamic world.

The two parties underscored the importance of continuing their efforts to maintain security, prosperity and stability in the region and in particular to counter Iran’s destabilizing activities. In this regard, King Salman expressed support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the P5 + 1 countries, which once fully implemented, will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and thereby enhance security in the region.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the outcome of Camp David Summit held by the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and President Obama last May, which aimed at strengthening the US-GCC partnership and fostering closer defense and security cooperation. Both leaders expressed their commitment to implement all the understandings reached at Camp David.

The two leaders reviewed the on-going military cooperation between the two countries in confronting the so-called ISIL, and in working to protect the sea lanes and confronting piracy. They discussed fast-tracking the military supplies to the Kingdom, as well as enhancing cooperation on counterterrorism, maritime security, cyber security and ballistic missile defense.

The two leaders underscored the importance of confronting terrorism and extremism. They reiterated the continued commitment between Saudi Arabia and the United States toward security cooperation, including joint efforts to counter Al-Qaeda and ISIL (Daesh) and praised their cooperation to stem the flow of foreign fighters, to counter ISIL’s hateful propaganda, and to cut off terrorist financing streams. Both leaders stressed the need for a long-term, multiyear counterterrorism effort against both Al-Qaeda and ISIL, requiring sustained cooperation from partner nations across the globe.

On Yemen, the two parties stressed the urgent need to reach a political solution within the GCC Initiative and the outcomes of the National Dialogue and United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 2216. Both leaders expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Yemen. King Salman conveyed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to continue assisting the Yemeni people; and to work with coalition and international partners to allow for unfettered access to assistance vetted by the UN and its partners, including fuel, to the impacted people of Yemen; and, to that end, to work toward opening Red Sea ports to be operated under UN supervision. Both leaders agreed to support and enable the UN-led humanitarian relief efforts.

Regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the two leaders underscored the importance of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, and underlined the necessity of reaching a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement to the conflict based on two states living side-by-side to achieve peace and security. They also encouraged both parties to take steps to preserve and advance the two-state solution.

Both leaders stressed the importance of reaching a lasting solution to the conflict in Syria based on the principles of Geneva Declaration to end the suffering of the Syrian people, maintain continuity of civilian and military government institutions, preserve the unity and territorial integrity of Syria, and ensure the emergence of a peaceful and pluralistic state free of discrimination or sectarianism. The two leaders asserted that any meaningful political transition would have to include the departure of Bashar Assad who has lost legitimacy to lead Syria.

The two sides expressed their support for the Iraqi government’s efforts to defeat ISIL and encouraged the full implementation of recently agreed reforms by Parliament. Implementation of these reforms will support security and stability in Iraq and preserve its national unity and territorial integrity, as well as unify the internal front to fight terrorism, which threatens all Iraqis.

The two leaders emphasized their continued strong support for Lebanon and its sovereignty, security and stability, and for the Lebanese Armed Forces as they secure Lebanon and its borders and resist extremist threats. The two leaders also affirmed the critical importance of Lebanon’s Parliament expeditiously electing a new president in accordance with the Lebanese constitution.

The two leaders discussed the challenge of global climate change and agreed to work together to achieve a successful outcome at the Paris negotiations in December, considering the Kingdom’s special circumstances.

Finally, the two leaders discussed a new strategic partnership for the 21st century and how to significantly elevate the relationship between the two countries. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the second deputy premier and chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA), briefed the US president on the Kingdom’s views regarding the strategic partnership.

The US president and King Salman directed officials in their respective governments to explore appropriate ways to move forward in implementing it in the coming months.

The president welcomed an invitation extended by King Salman to visit the Kingdom next year to complete putting the final touches to the strategic partnership.