Meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs&nbsp;(AFET) with Mohammed BIN AMIN AL-JEFRI, Vice Speaker of Majlis Al-Shura, Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, in the EP in Brussels. Statements by Mohammed BIN AMIN AL-JEFRI , Vice Speaker of Majlis Al-Shura, Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, Mich&egrave;le ALLIOT-MARIE (EPP, FR), Ana GOMES (S&amp;D, PT) and Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK)

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Brussels

exchange of views

meeting

EU - Saudi Arabia (T)

ALLIOT-MARIE, Michèle (EPP, FR)

GOMES, Ana (S&D, PT)

TANNOCK, Timothy Charles Ayrton (ECR, UK)

BIN AMIN AL-JEFRI, Mohammed

Exchange of views with Mohammed BIN AMIN AL-JEFRI, Vice Speaker of Majlis Al-Shura, Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia: extracts from the meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

Before the opening of the exchange of views, (4 shots)

SOUNDBITE (Arabic), Mohammed BIN AMIN AL-JEFRI , Vice Speaker of Majlis Al-Shura, Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia laments the situation a great deal, particularly since the humanitarian situation has worsened in the Yemen a great deal, we would like the international community to attempt to help foreign nationals to leave the country and to help medical supplies and medical support to be provided to the region."

SOUNDBITE (Arabic), Mohammed BIN AMIN AL-JEFRI , "In our country since the beginning of the Syrian crisis we have taken in 2.5 Million Syrian citizens. Our country has had been careful not to treat them as if they were refugees and putting them in refugee camps, which would have a negative impact on their dignity, we have authorised 100.000 of Syrians to become residents in our country, they have the right to free health care."

SOUNDBITE (French), Mich&#232;le ALLIOT-MARIE (EPP, FR), "We have many shared challenges for example the challenge of terrorism which has struck the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as it has many times Europe as well and it has affected many other parts of the world likewise. Another common problem is stability or destabilisation of the Middle East, which may well have implications for everyone and the Kingdom and Europe have a role to play in the international community."

SOUNDBITE (English), Ana GOMES (S&amp;D, PT), "What do you say to the people who think that Saudi Arabia is part of the problems we are facing instead of being part of the solution, namely in enabling terrorists groups via financing that is of course not by the government channelled by actually by private sources, that are not properly controlled."

SOUNDBITE (English), Ana GOMES (S&amp;D, PT), (on the Mr Al-Nimr - who awaits execution in Saudi Arabia): "I know for instance the situation of this young man Ali Al-Nimr, who is threatened to be beheaded and crucified, I hope this will not happen and that you yourself will be able to exercise your influence to prevent it because it will be extremely negative to the image of Saudi Arabia."

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), (on Turkey and Saudi Arabia) + (on threatening death penalties in Saudi Arabia) : "Turkey and your country Saudi Arabia in my mind now need to understand your enemy Assad has survived all expectations and that a transitional deals will have to be cut with Russia, with Russian aide and brokerage and I think your country and Turkey should be part of transitional talks. Lastly I would like also call on you to ask your King for clemency in the cases of Raif Badawi and Ali Al-Nimr."

SOUNDBITE (English), Mohammed BIN AMIN AL-JEFRI , "The government does not control more than 5 percent of the country, so it is really up to the International Community to take the initiative because without you know his Excellency told me that the whole community needs to take place, yes of course, the whole world community to make sure that this issue is solved, without their agreement and no active role, there will not be a solution, I'm very sorry."