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London (AFP) – British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt will travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday to pressure King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
During a trip to the region including a visit to the United Arab Emirates, Hunt will also seek to strengthen support for the UN's efforts to end the conflict in Yemen, the Foreign Office said. .
His visit comes in the context of an international diplomatic crisis following the murder of Saudi journalist Khashoggi, resident in the United States, at his country's consulate in Istanbul in October.
"The international community remains united in the horror and indignation at the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi a month ago," said Hunt, who will also meet with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir .
"It is clearly unacceptable that all the circumstances behind his assassination remain unclear.
"We encourage the Saudi authorities to cooperate fully with the Turkish inquiry into his death, so that justice is done for his family and the world that watches over them."
Hunt's visit comes after British Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Simon McDonald had an interview with the Crown Prince and the Saudi Foreign Minister in Riyadh.
During his brief visit to the Gulf, Mr. Hunt will also meet Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Yemeni Vice President Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar and Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani.
Britain is seeking the support of its regional partners for further action at the United Nations Security Council for peace talks in Yemen.
"The human cost of the war in Yemen is incalculable: with millions of displaced people, famine and diseases raging and years of bloodshed, the only solution now is a political decision to put the weapons of side and seek peace, "said Hunt.
"Great Britain holds a unique position, both as a pen holder at the UN Security Council and as an influential factor in the region." Today, I am traveling to the United States. Gulf to require that all parties engage in this process.
"We are witnessing a man-made humanitarian catastrophe: we are now on the brink of making a difference and engaging both in the United Nations peace process and the UK's current efforts in the Council. of security."
The Foreign Office also announced that Hunt would present the case of Matthew Hedges, a Ph.D. student who denies spying charges in the UAE.
