Geneva, Dhu-AlHijjah 21, 1438, September 12, 2017, SPA --The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has affirmed its continued efforts to promote and protect human rights based on the principles of the Islamic Sharia, pointing to its firm position that the call for the universality of human rights does not mean imposing principles and values that contradict our values and Islamic religion. In a speech to the 36th session of the Human Rights Council, Saudi ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Wasel stressed the Kingdom's keenness to continue and strengthen cooperation with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, pointing to the agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) which the Kingdom concluded with Commission as an important step in this regard, noting that the programs implemented in cooperation with the Commission aim to build national capabilities for the promotion and protection of human rights. Ambassador Al-Wasel added that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, based on its firm positions, international commitments, and close ties with the Yemeni people, has been one of the largest donors to Yemen and significantly contributed to the humanitarian assistance to alleviate the sufferings of the brotherly Yemeni people through programs and partnerships with regional and international governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations, whereas the latest one was allocation of $ 66 million to fight the cholera epidemic, in addition to other humanitarian assistance in kind, expressing his deep regret over the emergence of the cholera epidemic and the urgent need for food and medicine in some areas of Yemen. --SPA 15:17 LOCAL TIME 12:17 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w485773