Kyrgyzstan asks Saudi Arabia to allow citizens to commit Umrah

Bishkek, Dec. 16, 2020 / Kabar /. First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Nuran Niyazaliev met today with Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Kyrgyz Republic Abdulrahman Al-Jumah, the press service of the Foreign Ministry reported. During the conversation, an exchange of views took place on topical issues of bilateral cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and Saudi Arabia in the political, trade, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres. Niyazaliev emphasized the importance of speeding up the issue of opening direct flights between the capitals of the two countries, as well as creating favorable conditions for visiting Muslim shrines in Saudi Arabia for citizens of Kyrgyzstan, in compliance with sanitary and epidemiological requirements. Also, a special attention was paid to issues of mutual support within the framework of international organizations. Earlier, the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan reported that Saudi Arabia began accepting foreign citizens from 108 countries wishing to make a small Hajj (Umrah) starting from Nov. 1. Kyrgyzstan, along with Iran, Egypt, Qatar, Italy, was included in the list of countries temporarily banned from Umrah.