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Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has turned down an invitation to the G7 summit in Italy due to the Hajj pilgrimage season in his country, which starts on Friday, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.
Bin Salman was among a group of Middle Eastern leaders invited to the Group of Seven meeting, as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni works to advance Rome's relations with the Gulf states, according to media reports.
A statement from the Saudi government on Wednesday said the Crown Prince had sent an apology to Meloni and declined an invitation to attend the gathering scheduled for June 13 in Puglia due to "commitments related to supervising pilgrimage." Hajj is set to begin on June 14, drawing around 1.5 million visitors, who will make the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia's Mecca.
The Prince noted the strength of the relationship between the two countries and wished the Italian authorities success in hosting the summit.
Saudi media outlets had earlier reported that bin Salman had been invited, and Reuters reported last week that he would attend a G7 meeting for the first time.
Bin Salman was among a group of Middle Eastern leaders invited to the Group of Seven meeting, as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni works to advance Rome's relations with the Gulf states, according to media reports.
A statement from the Saudi government on Wednesday said the Crown Prince had sent an apology to Meloni and declined an invitation to attend the gathering scheduled for June 13 in Puglia due to "commitments related to supervising pilgrimage." Hajj is set to begin on June 14, drawing around 1.5 million visitors, who will make the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia's Mecca.
The Prince noted the strength of the relationship between the two countries and wished the Italian authorities success in hosting the summit.
Saudi media outlets had earlier reported that bin Salman had been invited, and Reuters reported last week that he would attend a G7 meeting for the first time.
