NEW YORK — Saudi Arabia reaffirmed that the Palestinian cause remains at the core of the conflict in the Middle East and that achieving a just and lasting peace requires the implementation of the two-state solution, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. These remarks were made by Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr. Abdulaziz Alwasil during the UN Security Council’s emergency session on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Addressing, on behalf of the Arab Group, Alwasil reiterated the Arab Group’s rejection of settlement expansion, land confiscation, forced displacement, and the targeting of civilians. He also stressed the invalidity of all attempts aimed at imposing Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories or altering the legal and historical status of Jerusalem and its holy sites.Alwasil welcomed international efforts aimed at securing a permanent ceasefire, including US-led efforts, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the immediate, sustained, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and rejecting its use as a means of collective punishment or a tool of political pressure.On behalf of the Arab Group, the Kingdom called on the Security Council to uphold its responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security and implementing its relevant resolutions, including Resolution No. 2334. It underscored the need to fulfill international legal obligations in a manner that contributes to protecting the Palestinian people and supporting prospects for peace and stability in the region. Saudi Arabia stresses shared international responsibility for addressing AI risksIn another address at the UN General Assembly’s interactive dialogue with the Co-Chairs of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, Alwasil, on behalf of the Arab Group, underscored the importance of international cooperation to promote the responsible use of AI and harness its potential in support of sustainable development.He welcomed efforts to implement the outcomes of the Global Digital Compact and to establish the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI. He also emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation among governments, the United Nations, the private sector, academic institutions, and civil society.Alwasil stressed the importance of ensuring that member states play a central role in any future AI governance arrangements or mechanisms, while respecting the sovereign right of each country to formulate national policies on these technologies in accordance with its development priorities and needs. Alwasil highlighted the importance of developing ethical frameworks for the responsible use of artificial intelligence founded on transparency, reliability, and accountability, while safeguarding privacy and human rights and taking into consideration cultural specificities and societal values. He also emphasized the need to address risks arising from the misuse of AI technologies, including misinformation, deepfakes, and cyberattacks, to strengthen public trust in these technologies and promote their safe and beneficial use worldwide.
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