Jeddah, SPA:
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Tuesday afternoon.
At the outset of the session, the King briefed the Cabinet on the two phone calls made to Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi of the Republic of Iraq, and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Minister of State, Cabinet's Member and Acting Minister of Media Dr. Essam bin Saad bin Saeed said in a statement to Saudi Press Agency following the session that the Cabinet was briefed on the results of the Kingdom's participation in the 14th G20 Summit held in Osaka, Japan, during which His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense headed the Kingdom's delegation and his meetings on the sidelines of the Summit with the leaders and heads of delegations of the participating countries and they reviewed the prospects of cooperation between the Kingdom and various countries and ways of developing them in the service of their common interests.
In this context, the Cabinet appreciated the contents of the Kingdom's speech delivered on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques by HRH Crown Prince, its emphasis on the importance of enhancing international cooperation and coordination in light of complicated and intertwined challenges being faced by the world today, the importance of strengthening international rapprochement through the establishment of the principle of broad dialogue based on the international system of principles and common interests, reaffirmation of the Kingdom's determination to continue working during its presidency of the Summit to achieve the desired progress on the agenda of the Group and working with all Member States to discuss the pressing issues of the twenty-first century, promoting innovation and the preservation of the Earth and human well-being.
The Cabinet commended distinguished results achieved by the Summit, expressing its thanks and appreciation to Japan for the Summit's success and good hosting, welcoming again the leaders of G-20 countries to be hosted next year in the Kingdom.
The Cabinet was briefed on the results of HRH Crown Prince's visit to the Republic of Korea, his talks with President Moon Jae-in and a number of officials during which they stressed the strength of relations between the two countries and the desire to enhance cooperation in all fields within the framework of Saudi-Korean 2030 in the interests of the two friendly peoples, and his talks with Emperor Naruhito of Japan and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, during which they discussed the prospects for cooperation between the two countries in accordance with Saudi-Japanese vision 2030.
The Minister said that the Cabinet reviewed a number of reports on latest Arab, regional and international developments. It counted the terrorist attack by the Iranian-backed terrorist Houthi militias on Abha International Airport this morning, injuring 9 civilians, including one of Indian nationality, as a continuation of terrorist acts and war crimes targeting civilians and civilian objects. It also wished the injured a speedy recovery, stressing the emphasis made by the Command of the Joint Forces to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen that the terrorist elements responsible for the planning and implementing this terrorist attack will be held accountable in accordance with international laws and charters.
The Cabinet reaffirmed that the Kingdom will continue to be a leader in its support for Palestinian refugees, stressing, in this regard, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's speech before the Pledging Conference of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in New York, emphasizing the right of Palestinians and their descendants that returning to their homeland is inalienable and a firm and established right that does not expire in time, due to it being a human and moral right and a legal and political right guaranteed by international resolutions.
The Cabinet expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's strong condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist attack in the city of Al- Arish, Egypt, and the two terrorist bombings that took place in the city of Tunis. It offered its condolences to the families of the victims and the governments and peoples of the Republics of Egypt and Tunisia, wishing the injured a speedy recovery, stressing at the same time the Kingdom's stand and solidarity with the two countries against all manifestations of violence, terrorism and extremism.
The Cabinet also expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's strong condemnation of the deplorable events by a number of demonstrators against Bahrain's Embassy in Baghdad, commending the position of the Iraqi government and the measures taken to provide the necessary protection to ensure the safety of the Bahraini mission. It also renewed the Kingdom's stand with the two brotherly countries in all that would achieve security and stability in the region.
On the internal affairs, the Cabinet considered a donation of SR10 million by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, SR5 million by HRH the Crown Prince and SR2 million by the Minister of Interior to replenish the second phase of "Forijat", assigned to help the release of military detainees charged in financial cases related to all military sectors, an embodiment of their permanent attention and keenness on reunifying them with their families, understanding their needs and relieve their distress.
The Cabinet also expressed thanks to and appreciation of the citizenry for their response with such an initiative via the online platform of Abshir, in helping those detained for financial claims to expedite paying their dues.
The Cabinet reaffirmed that the accession of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the membership of the Group of States of the Joint Ministerial Statement on Electronic Commerce of the World Trade Organization (WTO), reflects the leadership's interest in the e-commerce file to achieve the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, besides promoting economic diversification and also creating an attractive environment for investment, as well as encouraging entrepreneurship.
The Cabinet issued the following decisions:
First:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Interior, or his deputy, to discuss with the Kyrgyz side a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of civil protection and civil defense between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, sign it and submit the final version to complete formal procedures.
Second:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Justice of the People's Republic of China, on exchange and understanding.
Third:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs, or his deputy, to discuss with the Albanian side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Albania, on mutual exemption of short-term residence visas for Saudi national diplomatic and private passports holders only, and Albanian national diplomatic and service passports holders only, sign it and submit the final version to complete formal procedures.
Fourth:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, or his deputy, to discuss with the Ukrainian side a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State Agency for Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation of the Republic of Ukraine, in the field of energy efficiency, alternative fuel, sign it and submit the finally signed version to complete the formal procedures.
Fifth:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding for technical cooperation, in the field of civil aviation, between the Civil Aviation Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Sixth:
The Cabinet approved the Air Services Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda.
Seventh:
The Cabinet approved the amendment of paragraph (2) of its Resolution No. (181) dated 26/5/1431 H. on the representation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the Council of the Organization for the Development of Women, of OIC member states to read as follows : The Council of Family Affairs (Women's Committee), representing the Kingdom in the Council of OIC"
Eighth:
The Cabinet approved endorsing the final accounts of the State, for a previous fiscal year.
Ninth:
The Cabinet approved endorsing the final accounts of King Fahd Causeway Authority, for a previous fiscal year.
Tenth:
The Cabinet approved amending the regulation of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund.
Eleventh:
The Cabinet approved appointing two members to the board of the General Organization for Social Insurance, as follows:
1- Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh, representing the Economical and Development Affairs Council.
2- Eng. Tareq bin Osman Al-Qassabi, representing the employers.
Twelfth:
The Cabinet approved the hierarchy of the Saudi Exhibitions and Conferences Authority.
Thirteenth:
The Cabinet approved amending its decision No. 162 on 24/04/1435 H. to add members of the Public Prosecution to the categories mentioned in section (Second) of the decision and to add a representative of the Public Prosecution to the membership of the scientific committee set forth, in the section (Sixth) of the decision.
Fourteenth:
The Cabinet approved King Abdulaziz Foundation to complete procedures of awarding King Abdulaziz Prize for the best book, compatible with the goals of the foundation, for its 4th session.
Fifteenth:
The Cabinet approved appointing Naif bin Marzouq bin Manie Al-Fahadi on the post of Ambassador, and promoting the following foreign ministry officials to the post of Minister Plenipotentiary:
1- Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Birithain.
2- Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Baraka.
3- Salman bin Abdulrahman bin Is'haq Al Al-Sheikh.
4- Suleiman bin Abdulkarim bin Mohammed Al-Oqail.
5- Ibrahim bin Abdulwahab bin Abdullah Al-Gharib.
7- Thamer bin Humoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Shabeeb.
8- Faisal bin Sultan bin Nasser Al-Sahli.
9- Yusuf bin Saleh bin Mohammed Al-Otaibi.
10- Ali bin Yahiya bin Ali Al Zamanan.
11- Issam bin Saleh bin Hammad Al-Gitaili.
The Cabinet reviewed a number of topics on its agenda, including annual reports for the General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection (previously), Saudi Export Development Authority, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization and the Saudi Irrigation Organization, on two previous fiscal years.
The Cabinet was informed of them and took appropriate recommendations, in their regard.