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Saudi FM denies moving Arab League summit venue for fear of Houthi missiles

April 17, 2018 at 3:42 am

Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir in Manama, Bahrain on 30 July 2017 [Stringer/Anadolu Agency]

The Saudi Foreign Minister, Adel al-Jubeir has denied media reports claiming the kingdom has chosen the city of Dhahran to host the Arab League 29th Ordinary Summit instead of the capital, Riyadh for fear of Houthi missiles.

Speaking during a press conference at the conclusion of the summit on Sunday, the minister said choosing the venue had nothing to do with the Houthi missiles, which could reach Dhahran as well.

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“Dhahran was chosen as the most suitable city to host the summit because the Arab leaders could move easily between the summit venue and the Gulf Shield maneuvers” he explained.

Media outlets reported earlier that the Saudi government has moved the venue of the Arab League’s summit from the capital Riyadh to the King Salman AbdulAziz International Cultural Center in Dhahran as a precautionary measure to avoid threats by Houthi missiles which targeted the Saudi capital, Riyadh more than once with ballistic missiles.

The Arab League 29th Ordinary Summit kicked off on Sunday in the King Salman AbdulAziz International Cultural Center in Dhahran city, Saudi Arabia with representatives from 21 countries, including 16 Arab heads of states and leaders.