SPA: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the meeting of the cabinet in Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.

At the beginning of the meeting, the cabinet heard a number of reports on the developments of events and their implications in a number of Arab countries and the latest developments at the international arena.

In his statement to Saudi Press Agency following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja said in this regard, the cabinet reviewed efforts on the situation in Syria at both Arab and Muslim levels, commending the continuing the cooperative efforts of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to contain the Syrian crisis.

The cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's condemnation of all attacks aimed at diplomatic missions, without exception, and called for the need to adhere strictly and precisely to international agreements which guarantee the inviolability of diplomatic missions and the safety of their employees.

The cabinet condemned the illegal Israeli practices in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel's violations and aggressions against the Palestinian people, including the approval of the construction of six hundred and fifty new settlement units and the building of a road to link the settlements with occupied Alquds in order to isolate the holy city from its Palestinian surroundings and change its demographic nature. On the occasion of observing the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the cabinet called on the international community to take a firm and united stand toward the Palestinian people's winning of their freedom, independence and their legitimate rights; to end the injustice they suffer, and to firmly pressure Israel to abandon the logic of force, opt for the choice of peace, and recognize the Palestinian people's right to establish their independent state with Alquds as its capital in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy and international law.

On domestic affairs, the Minister of Culture and Information said the cabinet valued the launch of the first edition of the Encyclopedia of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Arabic under the auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The Encyclopedia offers a comprehensive, scientific knowledge documented with photos, maps and statistical data on all the details of life in the Kingdom in the old and modern times. It is with appreciation that the Cabinet notes this cultural and scientific project that took King Abdulaziz Public Library ten years to bring about.

The cabinet noted the convening of the conference on 'the Gulf and the World', organized in Riyadh by the Diplomatic Studies Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the Gulf Research Center in Dubai with the participation of a group of officials and specialists interested in Gulf issues from Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and various countries of the world as well as senior officials of regional and international organizations.

Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja said the cabinet then discussed its agenda and approved two appointments at Rank Fourteen:

1- Othman bin Abdullah bin Dakhaeel Alzoman is appointed to the position of Director General of Administration and Finance (rank 14) at the General Directorate of Prisons;

2- Mohammed bin Ali bin Shaman Al-Otaibi is appointed to the position of Planning and Human Resources Development Adviser (rank 14) at the Ministry of Labor.