Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt
It is “unacceptable” that the full circumstances behind Jamal Khashoggi's murder still remain unclear, the British foreign secretary said.
Speaking ahead of his visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Jeremy Hunt urged Saudi officials for a full co-operation with Turkey to enlighten what had happened to Khashoggi.
Hunt will be the first U.K. Minister to visit Saudi Arabia since the murder of the Saudi journalist one month ago, a Foreign Office statement said.
“He [Hunt] will use his meetings to make clear the importance of Saudi Arabia cooperating with Turkey to conduct a full and credible investigation into Mr Khashoggi’s death,” it said.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged on Sunday to hold accountable those responsible for the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Pompeo had a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, said State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert."The Secretary emphasized that the United States will hold all of those involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable, and that Saudi Arabia must do the same," said Nauert.Khashoggi, a Saudi national and columnist for The Washington Post, was killed Oct. 2 inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.After weeks of denying involvement, the kingdom admitted Khashoggi had been killed at the consulate but claimed the Saudi royal family had no prior knowledge of a plot to murder him.So far, 18 people, including security officers, have been arrested in Saudi Arabia in connection with the murder.On Yemen, Pompeo reiterated Washington’s calls for a "cessation of hostilities and for all parties to come to the table to negotiate a peaceful solution" to the conflict under the UN Special Envoy, Martin Griffiths.Impoverished Yemen has remained wracked by violence since 2014, when Shia Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including the capital, Sanaa.The conflict escalated in 2015 when Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched a devastating air campaign in Yemen aimed at rolling back Houthi gains.Saudi king meets UK envoy in RiyadhUN journalists hail Turkish probe into Khashoggi murderTrump discussed Khashoggi response with Erdoğan: White House40 days on, Khashoggi’s killing and the aftermath
Pompeo says US to hold Khashoggi killers accountable
“The international community remain united in horror and outrage at the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi one month ago,” Hunt said.
He added: “It is clearly unacceptable that the full circumstances behind his murder still remain unclear.
“We encourage the Saudi authorities to co-operate fully with the Turkish investigation into his death, so that we deliver justice for his family and the watching world.”
The statement added that Hunt will meet King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, Yemeni Vice President Ali Mohsen and Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled Al Yamani.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has discussed bilateral relations with British Prime Minister Theresa May's special envoy, Simon McDonald, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.McDonald's talks in Riyadh comes as British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt said he will visit Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on Monday to press for an end to the war in Yemen and to urge Saudi leaders to cooperate with an investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. UN journalists hail Turkish probe into Khashoggi murderTrump discussed Khashoggi response with Erdoğan: White House40 days on, Khashoggi’s killing and the aftermath
Saudi crown prince meets British special envoy
“The Foreign Secretary is seeking to build support among international, and particularly regional, partners for new action in the UN Security Council to bolster the UN-led peace process, following his meeting with UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths at the end of October,” it said.
“The human cost of war in Yemen is incalculable: with millions displaced, famine and disease rife and years of bloodshed, the only solution is now a political decision to set aside arms and pursue peace,” Hunt said.
“Britain has a unique position, both as pen-holder at the UN Security Council and as a key influencer in the region, so today I am travelling to the Gulf to demand that all sides commit to this process.
“We are witnessing a man-made humanitarian catastrophe on our watch: now is the window to make a difference, and to get behind both the UN peace process and current UK efforts in the Security Council,” he said.
Impoverished Yemen has remained wracked by violence since 2014, when Shia Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including the capital, Sanaa.
The conflict escalated in 2015 when Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched a devastating air campaign in Yemen aimed at rolling back Houthi gains.
U.S. President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan discussed how to respond to the killing last month of Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi, a White House official said on Sunday.The conversation took place during a Saturday dinner with heads of state gathered in Paris to mark the World War One Armistice centenary.Khashoggi, a critic of ruling Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was murdered at the kingdom's Istanbul consulate by a team sent from Riyadh. Saudi authorities have acknowledged that the killing was premeditated, but his body has not been found.Erdogan revealed on Saturday that audio recordings of the killing had been given to the U.S., French, German and British governments, adding that the operation had been ordered at the "highest levels" of the Saudi government.Trump expects to form a "much stronger opinion" by next week on Khashoggi's killing and Washington's response, he said on Nov. 7 - adding that he was working with Congress, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to establish who bore responsibility.Erdoğan sets off to attend WWI tribute in FranceTurkish President Erdoğan due in France for WWI tribute
Trump discussed Khashoggi response with Erdoğan: White House