Jeddah, SPA:
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud presided over the Cabinet's session at Alsalam palace in Jeddah yesterday.
At the outset of the meeting, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the talks he held with King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, confirming the deep-rooted ties binding the two countries and their keenness to develop them in a way that benefits the two sisterly peoples. He also briefed the meeting on the telephone conversations he made separately with each of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zaid Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen.
In a statement to the Saudi press Agency following the meeting, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, said the Council of Ministers reviewed the developments at the Islamic, Arab and International arenas, confirming that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would spare no effort in support of Pakistan to alleviate the flood-caused sufferings and losses incurred by people in the sisterly country.
He pointed that the initiatives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his prompt instructions to dispatch two field hospitals and a Saudi rescue team composed from Civil Defense and Border Guard members to Pakistan to provide help to the trapped, besieged and victims in addition to the King's instructions to send airlift relief items and hold a popular campaign to assist the Pakistani people, confirming the interest and care of the monarch of the Pakistani people and his support for Muslim peoples during tough times.
The Minister expressed the appreciation of the Kingdom for the thanks expressed by the Pakistani government and people for the Kingdom’s stance.
He expressed thanks and appreciation of the positive response of the Saudi people for the King's call to help the Pakistani people.
On the Iraqi issue, the Minister said the Council reiterated the Kingdom's call for the Iraqi brothers to unify ranks and give priority to the national interest by forming a reconciliatory government that achieves their aspirations in reaching a unified, independent and stable country.
The Minister of Culture and Information added that the Cabinet welcomed the international quartet statement to resume direct peace negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis in Washington on the 2nd of September 2010. He welcomed the Palestine Liberation Organization's statement to take part in the negotiations based on the quartet's statement and U.S. administration’s call.
On domestic matters on the agenda, the Minister said the Cabinet issued the following decisions:
The Cabinet approved the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Doha on February 22, 2010.
The Cabinet also approved a scientific and educational MoU between the Ministry of Higher Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of National Education and Higher education, Framework formation and scientific Study of the Kingdom of Morocco signed in Riyadh on January 5, 2010.
Based on the recommendations of an ad hoc committee which has studied the issue of Ein Zubaida, a water spring in Saudi Arabia, the Cabinet took a number of measures, including the transfer of Ein Zubaida affairs from the Ministry of Water and Electricity to the General Commission for Endowments, taking in mind that Ein Zubaida is a general endowment to provide water to the people of Makkah and pilgrims.
The Cabinet gave the okay for the Kingdom to join the Meter's agreement signed in Paris on May 20, 1875 H.
The Cabinet approved the ethics of studying the living creatures.