A Saudi flag flutters atop Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey October 8, 2018. REUTERS/MuradSezer
CAIRO – 18 December 2018: Saudi Arabia denounced the recent stance of the US Senate concerning its report on the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, asserting its total rejection of interference in its internal affairs or any attack on its leadership.
US Senate earlier blamed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for Khashoggi's murder that took place in early October, which Saudi Arabia considers as "baseless allegations."
The Saudi remarks were included in a statement published by the foreign minister on his official Twitter account. Local Saudi newspapers say the statement is citing an official source in the ministry.
Saudi Arabia has already stressed that "what happened to the citizen Jamal Khashoggi is a crime that does not reflect the policy of the kingdom or the approach of its institutions," adding that the kingdom affirms its rejection of any attempt "to get the issue out of the course of justice in the kingdom."
Saudi Arabia deplores the recent stance of the United States Senate, which was "built on baseless claims and accusations," including "blatant interference" in its internal affairs, the statement said, adding such allegations undermine the role of the kingdom at the regional and international levels.
Saudi Arabia stressed its keenness to continue and develop relations with the US, the statement said, adding that the kingdom wonders about such a stance adopted by "members of a prominent institution" in an allied and friendly country,with which the kingdom shares strategic political, economic and security ties that were established over decades to serve the interests of both countries and peoples.
The kingdom also affirms its "total rejection of any interference in its internal affairs or [attack on] the Saudi leadership, represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Highness the Crown Prince," the statement reiterated.
The kingdom also referred that such stance will "not undermine its leading role in the regional surrounding, the Arab and Islamic worlds, or on the international level,"stressing that Saudi Arabia has "a special place in the hearts of all Muslims," which has made it a pillar of stability in the Middle East and the world, and the cornerstone of efforts to preserve peace and security on the regional and international levels, according to the statement.
The kingdom also plays a leading role in stabilizing the international economy by maintaining the balance of energy markets to serve producers and consumers alike, the statement added.
The statement also asserted the importance of Saudi Arabia's role in fighting terrorism and terror organizations, including the Islamic State (IS), al-Qaeda, and also through establishing the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition and participating in the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.
At the same time, the kingdom continues efforts to reach a political solution to the Yemeni crisis based on Security Council Resolution 2216, the Gulf Initiative and the outcome of the comprehensive national dialogue, including the efforts of the UN envoy.
Saudi Arabia knows, according to the statement, that the "US Senate sends wrong messages to anyone who wants to break the Saudi-US relations," adding that "the kingdom hopes it would not be included in the internal political debate in the United States, in order to "prevent repercussions in the relations between the two countries, which [can] have negative effects on the important strategic relationship between them."
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