Riyadh, SPA :
The Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the session held by the Cabinet at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh yesterday.
At the outset of the meeting, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the contents of the telephone conversation he had with President Mohammed Bukhari of the Republic of Nigeria;
the results of his meetings and talks with President Omar Hasan Al-Bashier of The Sudan; President Nursultan Nazarbayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Vice President of Argentina; the General
Coordinator of the Negotiations Higher Commission for the Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces; Director General of the IMF; U.S. Secretary of Treasury; heads of Auditing and Accountancy bureaus of
the GCC member states; E.U. High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; Vice President of the European Commission, including reviews of the bilateral relations of the Kingdom with each of
them and discussions of the latest developments at the regional and international arenas.
The Cabinet lauded the contents of the speech delivered by the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques at a party held by the Saudi Standards and Quality Authority in honor of businesses which have won King
Abdulaziz Prize for Quality in its third session under the patronage of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques. In his speech, the monarch confirmed the historic change witnessed by the Kingdom through its
vision 2030, including programs and initiatives for national transformation to build a strong and firm economy that depend on enhancing its competitiveness with world economies and confirmed that the
Kingdom is, thanks to God Almighty, and the efforts of its citizens, able to face this challenge and produce a new experiment based on quality and excellence.
In a statement to SPA following the meeting, Dr. Isam bin Saad bin Saeed, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet, and acting Minister of Culture and Information, explained that the Cabinet has also
confirmed the force the Kingdom is enjoying to confront the economic, financial local and international current and future challenges despite the fall in oil price and its ability to preserve a good space in the
public budget and stabilize its reserves and reduce its debts, citing the strength of budgets of the Kingdom's banks and the firm and intact financial indexes, thanks to God Almighty, and emphasizing taking
the necessary measures that enable the Kingdom to adapt with the current challenges and the success in mitigating the pressure that derails the country's economic growth.
The Cabinet was briefed on the constructive discussion which took place at the first joint meeting of the ministers of finance of the GCC member countries and the U.S. secretary of treasury as well as the
contents of the joint annual meeting of the finance ministers and governors of monetary funds and central banks of the GCC states which was held with the director general of the International Monetary Fund.
The Cabinet condemned the launching by Houthi militias of a ballistic missile from Saada province in Yemen towards Makkah region, which was intercepted and totally destroyed by the Saudi air defense
forces before reaching its target without causing any human or material harms, a flagrant breach of Muslims feelings and most prestigious sanctities: the Grand mosque and House of God, noting wide-range
and high waves of condemnation orchestrated by Islamic, Arab, and friendly Muslim countries and organizations, commissions and establishments, Ifta complexes, Islamic Ulema councils and ordinary
Muslim peoples in which they expressed rejection of such dangerous and frustrating violation and voiced support for the Kingdom in its defense of the lands of the two holy mosques. The Cabinet also
expressed appreciation of the efforts being exerted by the brave men in different military sectors to preserve and keep order and security and protect the Kingdom's borders and sanctities.
The Cabinet welcomed the election of the Kingdom for the fourth time in a row as member of the Human Rights Council by the UN general assembly for the term 2017 - 2019, reflecting the international
renowned status being enjoyed by the Kingdom and its achievements at the local and international arenas in the field of consolidating the principles of justice and equality and protection and enhancement of
human rights as well as the efforts it was exerting towards the fair issues in the world.
The minister of state also explained that the Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's assertion before the Second Committee during its 71st session on Article 65 of the United Nations that the Palestinian cause
comes at the top of its priorities, hoping that the struggle be ended and a peace agreement that offers security and natural relations among all countries of the region be concluded. The Cabinet also reiterated
the Kingdom's confirmation on the right of the Palestinian people in their occupied land since 1967, including Al-Gods, and coerce Israel to stop all kinds of violations of the international laws and charters and
the necessity of its respect and abiding by the UN relevant resolutions.
The Cabinet lauded the Kingdom's offer before the Second Committee in its 71st session in the UN on agricultural development, food security and nutrition, considering the initiative of the Custodian of the Two
Holy Mosques on Saudi agricultural investment abroad which conforms with the orientation of the United Nations, and the specialized international agencies to assist developing countries invest locally and
develop their infrastructures and achieve food security for their peoples.
The Cabinet condemned and denounced the terror attack which took place at the police academy in the Pakistani city of Quetta as well as the explosion that targeted an hotel in the Kenyan city of Mandera,
killing and injuring scores of innocents in the two countries, expressing the condolence of the of the Kingdom to the two republics of Pakistan and Kenya, and wishing the injured a quick recovery.
The Cabinet lauded the participation of the Saudi security forces in the first joint Arabian Gulf security drill of the GCC member countries, hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain as well as the start of the 4th Saudi
International conference on tiny technologies (SINC 2016), organized by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in collaboration with King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals.
The Cabinet praised the efforts exerted by the security authorities in combating terrorist activities targeting the Kingdom's security and potentials, chasing the suspects and culprits, and apprehending the
involved, citing the dismantling of two Daesh-linked terror cells targeting security men and Al-Joharah stadium in Jeddah, reiterating the Kingdom's security authorities determination to proceed with their efforts
to stage pre-emptive operations to cut off the hands of evil before carrying out the plots of their instructors to spread corruption, terrify the innocents, destabilize the order and security of the nation and harm its
capabilities and potentials.
Dr. Essam bin Saad bin Saeed said that the Cabinet discussed the agenda of the meeting, and concluded the following:
First:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs, or his deputy, to discuss with the Serbian side, and sign, a draft general agreement for cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Serbia.
Second:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs, or his deputy, to discuss with the Lithuanian side and sign a draft memorandum of understanding on the political consultations between the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.
Third:
The Cabinet authorized the President of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, or his deputy, to discuss with the Moroccan side and sign a draft agreement for cooperation in the field of
renewable energy between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Fourth:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Health, or his deputy, to discuss with the South African side and sign a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the fields of health between the Ministry of
Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of South Africa.
Fifth:
The Cabinet approved a new paragraph to Article (1/First) of Cabinet Resolution No. (310) dated 27/10/1429H. regarding the organization of the status of employees of government and private sectors
participating in national events abroad.
Sixth:
The Cabinet approved a number of arrangements regarding the opportunities for financing the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises.
Seventh:
The Cabinet approved the amendment to Article (Second) of the Cabinet Resolution No. (11) dated 13/01/1437H to read as follows: "With the exception of the President of the Authority, the regulations and
salary scale of the General Organization for Social Insurance shall be applied to the employees of the General Authority for Census".
Eighth:
The Cabinet approved the amendment of Article (Fifth) of the Service Termination Regulation.
Ninth:
The Cabinet approved the amendments to Articles (First, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Twelfth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Nineteenth) of the Residential Support Regulation.
Tenth:
The Cabinet approved a number of procedures regarding the implementation of real estate financing product named Soft Mortgage.
Eleventh:
The Cabinet approved process of paying the entitlements of real estate developers.
Twelfth: The Cabinet approved the amendment of the name of "Saudi Credit and Savings Bank" to be "Social Development Bank", as well as the amendment of Articles (Forth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth
and Eleventh of the Regulations of Saudi Credit and Savings Bank.
Thirteenth:
The Cabinet approved a number of promotions as follows:
1- Abdulrahman bin Ghannam bin Mohammed Al-Ghannam promoted to the post of Religious Advisor (Rank 15) at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance.
2- Rashid bin Abdullah bin Othman Al-Rashed promoted to the post of Civil Service Advisor (Rank 15) at the Ministry of Civil Service.
3- Dr. Majid bin Obaid bin Maeili Al-Harbi promoted to the post of Advisor for Education Affairs (Rank 15) at the Ministry of Education.
4- Eng. Obaid bin Ali bin Abdullah Al-Qarni promoted to the post of Electrical Engineer Advisor (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Interior.
5- Salman bin Jarallah bin Zaid Al-Sowayna promoted to the post of Director General of Minister's Office (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
6- Ahmed bin Mahdi bin Misfer Al-Harthy promoted to the post of Assistant Undersecretary for Planning and Development (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Education.
7- Abdulrahman bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Hudaithi promoted to the post of Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry for Planning Affairs (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Culture and Information.
8- Abdullatif bin Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al-Khamis promoted to the post of Statistics Expert (Rank 14) at the General Authority for Statistics.