What happened to Jamal Khashoggi regretable: Saudi Prince

Riyadh: During his meeting with United States President Joe Biden on Friday, Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told him that what happened to journalist Jamal Khashoggi was regrettable. He added that Saudi had gone through all legal procedures in the journalist's matter, Arab News reported.

The meeting held in Jeddah, scheduled for an hour, lasted for three hours after the duo discussed some issues of common interest.

Prince Salman told Biden that though the two countries share values, there will always be matters that are conflicting, which must be respected. He said that if it is assumed that the US will deal only with countries that share 100 per cent of its values and principles, then the US will have no other countries to have ties with except NATO countries. He said that when Khashoggi's case was mentioned by Biden.

Prince Salman said the Kingdom had taken measures to prevent future mistakes like what happened with Khashoggi. He said that similar incidents were happening worldwide the same year when Khashoggi was killed. He mentioned the killing of the US journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and questioned the steps taken by the US and other world countries in the matter.

Further, the Prince said that imposing values by force on countries would turn counterproductive, which was evident in Iraq and Afghanistan, where the US did not succeed.

The survivors of a family who got killed in the 2021 drone strike in Afghanistan are still waiting for justice, he reminded. Also, he pointed out the US human rights violations in Abu Ghraib jail.