Middle East & North Africa

Saudi Arabia To Launch National Investment Strategy Next Year

RIYADH, Nov 22 (NNN-SPA) – Saudi Arabia announced, yesterday, it will launch a national investment strategy next year.

The Saudi Minister of Investment, Khalid Al-Falih, revealed in Riyadh, at a media briefing, ahead of the Group of 20 (G20) Leaders’ Summit, that, the strategy grants full ownership rights to Saudi and foreign investors.

Iran’s exports to EU grows by 13% in nine months

Tehran, Nov 22, IRNA – Iran’s exports to the European Union have grown by 13 percent over the first nine months of 2020 compared to the previous year's corresponding period, according to a report by Tehran Chamber of Commerce.

Iran exported some €563 million of commodities to the European Union in the nine-month period, the report said.

The report, however, said that Iran's imports from the European Union stood at €2.78 billion which showed a 15 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.  

'Turkey maintains ties with West without ignoring East'

22 Nov 2020; AA: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that Turkey has maintained robust relations with the West without ignoring the East.

“We cannot afford to turn our back on either the East or the West. While developing our relations with Europe, we never ignore Asia and Africa,” Erdogan said, attending an event organized by the Washington-based Halifax International Security Forum via video link.

Turkey calls Greece for dialogue on East Med

22 Nov 2020; MEMO: Turkey reiterated its call Saturday for dialogue with Greece regarding its seismic research activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. 

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said Greece issued another statement “reiterating the known claims and objections of Oruc Reis [seismic research vessel] regarding the seismic research activity carried out on the Turkish continental shelf.”

Top Afghan peace negotiator blasts Australian crimes

22 Nov 2020; AA: The head of Afghanistan’s High Council National Reconciliation blasted the killing of at least 39 Afghan civilians by Australian forces during an interview with Anadolu Agency.

“There is no way to define this brutality. There is no way to explain what has happened. It is incomprehensible,” Abdullah Abdullah told Turkey’s leading news provider.

“These are crimes against innocent people, and I was shocked,” said Abdullah, during an official visit in Turkey on Nov. 19-20.

'Lebanon changed position on maritime borders 7 times': Israel's energy minister

21 Nov 2020; MEMO: Israel has accused Lebanon of backtracking on its position on the demarcation of the maritime borders between the two countries in the Mediterranean and warned of a "dead end" in the talks that might lead to obstructing oil exploration projects.

Lebanon and Israel, while officially at war, last week concluded the third round of negotiations under the auspices of the US and the United Nations (UN), and decided to hold the fourth round in December.

Israeli army bombs western, southern Gaza

22 Nov 2020; MEMO: The Israeli military bombed western and southern Gaza early Sunday after it said a rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports.

Israeli army combat helicopters bombed Khan Yunus, according to data received by Anadolu Agency.

No information was released on casualties.

Gaza has not released a statement on the bombing.

Saudi FM says relations with Turkey 'good and amicable

22 Nov 2020; MEMO: Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said Saturday that relations with Turkey as "good and amicable," according to a statement cited by Reuters.

The foreign minister, whose country is hosting the G20 summit in which Turkey attended, denied any form of informal boycott of Turkish products, Anadolu reports.

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