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Dutch minister ditches Saudi summit over Khashoggi
THE HAGUE, Oct 18, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The Dutch finance minister has pulled
out of a big investment conference in Saudi Arabia over the “very serious”
disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the government said
Thursday.
Wopke Hoekstra’s withdrawal from the October 23-25 Future Investment
Initiative in Riyadh — dubbed the “Davos in the Desert” — follows that of
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and IMF chief Christine Lagarde.
“The disappearance of #Khashoggi is a very serious matter. Saudi Arabia has
not yet been able to provide any clarification,” Dutch Foreign Minister Stef
Blok said as he announced the decision on Twitter.
“That is why we decided @WBHoekstra will not travel to Riyadh today. The
Netherlands stands for press freedom, worldwide.”
An array of policy-makers and corporate chiefs have already pulled out of
the conference in Saudi Arabia, risking the loss of lucrative business with
the kingdom.
Khashoggi, who was living in self-imposed exile in the United States where
he contributed to the Washington Post, vanished after entering the Saudi
consulate in Istanbul on October 2.
He was critical of some of Saudi Arabia’s policies.
Turkish officials claim he was killed and dismembered in the consulate by a
hit squad which arrived from Riyadh — claims denied by the Saudi government.
BSS/AFP/MRI/1732 HRS