OIC Holds Virtual Extraordinary Meeting of the Executive Committee at Foreign Ministers level on COVID-19 Effects

Jeddah, April 22, 2020, SPA -- The Extraordinary Meeting of the Executive Committee at Foreign Ministers level on COVID-19 Effects, which was held today via Video conferencing, was chaired by Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the participation of the Foreign Ministers who are members of the committee. At the outset of the meeting, the Minister of Foreign delivered a speech in which he pointed out that the meeting was held based on the responsibility of member states towards their people to confront the novel coronavirus pandemic, which requires firm measures at various levels. He highlighted the Kingdom’s preventive and precautionary measures since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus to protect citizens and expatriates and deal with financial and economic impacts through the approval of a comprehensive package of urgent initiatives and exceptional incentives that exceeded SAR 120 billion, including the providing of free health care to all citizens and expatriates in all matters related to the coronavirus pandemic. He pointed out that based on the Kingdom’s awareness of the importance of intensifying international efforts to combat COVID-19 and in light of its presidency of the G20 this year, the Kingdom called for the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit on March 26, 2020, to discuss ways to combat COVID-19 and coordinate global efforts to reduce its humanitarian, economic and societal impact, and that the summit resulted in the commitment of the G20 leaders to do everything necessary to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects, and the group pumped $7 trillion into the global economy to reduce the economic effects of this virus. He added that meeting of Finance Ministers of G20 was convened at the invitation of the Kingdom to help the needy countries and support global financial stability, where an agreement was reached to suspend the debts owed by the poorest countries to help them face the health and economic repercussions of the COVID-19 starting from the month of May 2020. In the same context, a meeting of the Energy Ministers of G20 was held to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on energy markets and its stability, and an exceptional meeting between the Ministers of OPEC member countries and oil producing countries outside the organization in which they reached a positive agreement that restores the balance of oil markets that were affected in light of the global crisis of the coronavirus pandemic. He said that as a contribution from the Kingdom in the international efforts to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, it has provided financial support of $500 million to international organizations, especially health ones, and also announced the provision of $10 million to the World Health Organization to support them in the measures taking to combat this virus. In addition, the Kingdom has provided health assistance to a number of affected member countries, including Yemen with $38 million, and the State of Palestine with $3 million and 10,000 via King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief). The Foreign Minister stressed that the world today is living in a critical time in facing this pandemic, which the individual efforts of states will not be able to confront it, and it requires a high collective response, based on continuing hard work, cooperation, exchanging information and experiences, enhancing awareness in societies, and complying with the instructions and guidelines issued to mitigate the effects of this pandemic through the joint action organizations, especially the OIC. He said that it is well known that the Kingdom appreciates the joint work among the member states, and believes in the important role played by the OIC and its specialized agencies. The Kingdom announced, during its chairmanship of the 14th Islamic Summit held in Makkah, the donation of $9 million to support the Islamic Solidarity Fund at $3 million per year, he said. At the end of his speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed that with the Allah's grace, then the mutual cooperation, we will be able to overcome this crisis and move forward in achieving development and prosperity for our countries and peoples. Then the Secretary General of the OIC, Dr. Youssef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, delivered a speech in which he mentioned the continuous support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, especially during these critical days that our world is experiencing. Dr. Al-Othaimeen expressed his appreciation for the proactive efforts made by the Member States in the framework of combating this pandemic, and taking many urgent measures to combat its spread. --SPA