New York - The permanent representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, Ambassador Abdullah bin Yahya Al-Muallami,affirmed that, in sensing the importance of implementing the National Space Strategy, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was keen to regulate everything related to satellite systems, develop spacecraft launch techniques, and set the requirements for the development and implementation of the space sector infrastructure, earth stations and space transport vehicles, and work to enhance space security through space monitoring and tracking, space debris monitoring, early warning, and strengthening international cooperation with the competent authorities in the space field.

This came in the Kingdom's speech before the Fourth Committee (Special Political Issues and Decolonization Committee) in its meeting held Friday on the item related to the peaceful use of outer space, the item on issues related to the media, the item on the comprehensive review of peacekeeping operations, and the item related to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for the Palestinians in the Near East, and the item related to the report of the Special Committee on Investigating Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arab Population in the Occupied Territories, and the items related to decolonization, delivered by His Excellency the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations Ambassador Abdullah bin Yahya Al-Mouallimi .

He said that with regard to the clause on the peaceful use of outer space, which is witnessing increasing interest from states and international organizations, the Kingdom considers with great interest that the space sector should be used for scientific and peaceful purposes, and that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ratified “United Nations treaties related to the exploration and use of outer space.” Peaceful Purposes ”and its principles is evidence of this concern.

He pointed out that as a culmination of those efforts, the Saudi Space Authority was established, stating that the Kingdom has established a Center of Excellence in the Research of the Moon and Near-Earth Objects withNASA, in addition to the Center of Excellence for Space Research and Joint
Aviation with Stanford University, USA.

He pointed out that the Kingdom has strengthened the level of education in space and aviation sciences, educational programs, and the development of national cadres.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia calls for concerted international efforts to lay the foundations necessary to ensure the use of outer space for scientific and peaceful purposes.

With regard to issues related to the media, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia believes in the importance of the media and the important and pivotal role it plays in consolidating the concepts of coexistence between peoples, consolidating interdependence among them, and promoting and advancing human rights.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is keen, through its media outlets, to consolidate moderation, respect rights and justice, reduce hate speech and combat extremism, and not allow terrorist and extremist groups to use media platforms to spread ideas of hate and violence.

With regard to the comprehensive review of peacekeeping operations, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia values ​​the efforts made by the United Nations, represented by peacekeepers' operations, to maintain international peace and security, and the challenges facing all countries of the world as a result of international armed conflicts and civil wars invite us to concerted international efforts to  strengthen the role of peacekeepers. In this context, the Kingdom welcomed the proposals of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, on reforms related to the operations of peacekeepers to make them more efficient and effective in order to achieve a sustainable peace, and also supported the Secretary-General's initiative on peacekeeping (Action for Peace A4P), and signed the Secretary-General's declaration. General shared commitments to improve the work of peacekeepers and the safety of their personnel.

As part of our continuous efforts to contribute to peace-making and peacekeeping operations, I would like to refer to the technical support and assistance provided by the Kingdom's government to the G5 Sahel Joint Force in combating terrorism and its financing, which was confirmed by His Highness the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah during his participation in the virtual meeting To the Sahel Alliance in June of this year, based on the Kingdom's historical relations with the members of the Sahel Alliance and belief in the vital role of this group in combating terrorism, stressing that the Kingdom will spare no effort to support all countries in its war against terrorism and extremism.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, believing in the importance of economic prosperity and sustainable development in reducing and curbing regional and internal conflicts, and from its position as the leader of the G20 for the year 2020 AD, has contributed to supporting countries suffering from financial and economic crises and strengthening their national institutions, as my government, in its capacity as Chairman of the G20, presented a postponement plan Paying debts to the poorest countries in coordination with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. This initiative, to which the group countries responded and welcomed by the Director General of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, provides instant liquidity of more than 20 billion dollars.

As for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East..the suffering of the Palestinian refugees is increasing day by day due to the deterioration of conditions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and high rates of food insecurity,poverty and depletion Resilience and an increase in the desperation of the Palestinians due to the blockade and illegal Israeli practices on the land of the occupied State of Palestine since 1967, and Israel's continuous violations of United Nations resolutions and international covenants.