Germany's Merkel presses Saudi Arabia on refugees, women rights ahead of G-20 summit

German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with Saudi Arabia's King Salman and his successors in her first visit to the kingdom in seven years, saying she pressed them on women's rights, the war in Yemen and other sensitive issues, as reported by the Associated Press on May 1. 

After her meetings in the Red Sea city of Jiddah during her visit, which focused on bilateral relations and preparations for the next G-20 meeting, she told German journalists traveling with her that she raised human rights concerns with Saudi leaders, including the rights of women.

She said Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen also was discussed. For more than two years, the kingdom has been bombing Yemeni rebels aligned with Saudi Arabia's regional Shiite rival, Iran. The conflict there has driven the Arab world's poorest countries to the brink of famine, with 27 million people needing humanitarian or protection assistance.

"We don't believe there can be a military solution to the conflict," Merkel said.

As is customary, Saudi officials did not comment on the details of the meetings.

Merkel is traveling with a business delegation that includes CEOs of major German companies that are eyeing opportunities in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom is trying to attract greater foreign investment as it diversifies its economy away from oil, the backbone of its economy.

She expressed to Saudi officials that Europe remains interested in a free trade agreement with Gulf states.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE are Germany's largest trading partners in the Middle East.

The official Saudi Press Agency reported the two sides signed a number of memorandums to enhance cooperation in the fields of technology, energy and business.

After her meeting with the Saudi...