Then, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud delivered the following speech: "In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, Praise be to Allah, and prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, My brothers, Your Majesties, Your Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Your Excellency Secretary General of the Arab League, I am pleased to welcome you to your country the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I appreciate your accepting the invitation to attend this extraordinary summit. I would like to thank my brother President Beji Caid Essebsi of Tunisia for his successful efforts during this session. We are meeting today to discuss the exceptional challenges facing us that threaten Arab security, the regional and international security and stability, the freedom of world trade and the stability of the world economy. At a time when the Palestinian cause remains our primary cause until the Palestinian people get their stolen rights and establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital; and in accordance with the relevant international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, we are now facing a threat to our Arab security, which is the sabotage operations that targeted commercial vessels near the territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates as well as two oil pump stations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by Iranian-backed terrorist militias. This is not new to the Iranian regime's continuous violation of the international laws and covenants and its threat to the security and stability of our countries and interference in our countries' affairs. My brothers, Your Majesties, Your Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Despite the machinations and terrorist acts carried out by the Iranian regime directly or through its agents in order to undermine the Arab security and the development process in our Arab countries, our countries and peoples have been able to confront these machinations, achieve progress in their development and economic paths and maintain Arab security. The lack of a deterrent and firm stance to confront these terrorist acts of the Iranian regime in the region has led the Iranian regime to continue and escalate these acts as we see today. My brothers, Your Majesties, Your Highnesses, Your Excellencies, The hand of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will always be extended for cooperation and dialogue with the countries of the region and the world in order to enhance development and prosperity and achieve lasting peace for the countries and peoples of the region, including the Iranian people. We must strive to make the Arab world an influential economic and cultural center in the world, reflecting the economic, cultural and historical capabilities of our countries and peoples. I call upon you, my brothers, to stand seriously and firmly to defend these gains. We also demand the international community to shoulder its responsibilities towards the threat posed by Iranian practices to the international peace and security, use all means to deter this regime and limit its expansionism. May Allah's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you." --More 03:38 LOCAL TIME 00:38 GMT 0056 www.spa.gov.sa/w1111950