Riyadh, SPA:
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session held at Al-Yamamah Palace here yesterday.
At the outset of the session, the King briefed the Cabinet on the content of the two telephone calls with President Mahamadou Issoufou of the Republic of Niger and President Dr. Barham Salih of the Republic of Iraq, citing reviewing developments in the region, affirming the Kingdom's position and its combating of terrorist acts and ensuring the security and stability of countries and peoples. The King also briefed the Cabinet on the content of the message sent to Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the results of his meeting with Foreign Ministers of Arab and African Coastal States of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and his commending of founding and signing the Charter of the Council of Arab and African Coastal States of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The Cabinet stressed the importance of the Council's role in enhancing ways of cooperation in political, economic and security fields between those countries, and seeking to achieve their common interests and enhancing security and stability at the regional and international levels, due to the importance that the waterway represents to international trade and communication between civilizations and cultures.
The Minister of Media, Turki bin Abdullah Al-Shabanah, pointed out in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency after the session, that the Cabinet considered awarding the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques the "Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Necklace, First Class" by the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization in appreciation of his humanitarian diplomatic efforts, as an embodiment of regional and international contributions and efforts by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the King's leadership, in the fields of development and humanitarian and relief works for those affected by crises and disasters, and a recognition of the Kingdom's leading and prominent role in the list of donor countries, as it became a unique model in humanitarian aid.
The Cabinet commended the care and attention for building and renovating mosques by the leadership, praising in this context what was accomplished by 'Mohammed bin Salman Project for Historic Mosques Renovation', including development and rehabilitation of 30 historic mosques in the first phase of the project in 10 regions, upon the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, to develop and rehabilitate 130 historic mosques in various regions of the Kingdom at several stages, for their great position in Islam and the historical, cultural and social depth they represent, in addition to preserving and rehabilitating historic mosques for worshiping.
The Minister of Media stated that the Cabinet reviewed reports on latest developments in regional and international arenas, reiterating the importance of the Kingdom's call for working to achieve the region's security and stability, and stave off all that might lead to a worsening of the situation as a result of the escalation of tensions and terrorist acts that the Kingdom warned of their repercussions. The Cabinet pointed in this regard to current events in Iraq, and the need for the international community to assume its responsibilities to take necessary measures to ensure the security and stability of the region.
The Cabinet confirmed what the Kingdom expressed of its rejection and condemnation of the military escalation and Turkish interference in the Libyan issue, which constitutes a violation of international principles and covenants, and Security Council resolutions issued on Libya. It is also considered as a contrary to the Arab position adopted by the League of Arab States last December, undermines international efforts aimed at resolving the Libyan crisis; and constitutes a threat to Libyan, Arab and regional security.
The Cabinet issued the following decisions:
First:
Approving the agreement annexed to the agreement of dividing the divided and the submerged zones, adjacent to the divided zone between Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait , and its annexes.
Approving a memorandum of understanding between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the State of Kuwait, and its annexes.
A royal decree has been prepared in this regard.
Second:
Approving a Memorandum of Understanding between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Iraq in the field of electric energy.
Approving two memoranda of understanding between the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Ministry of Oil, and the Ministry of Industry and Minerals in the Republic of Iraq for cooperation in oil, gas, industry and mineral resources sectors.
A royal decree has been prepared in this regard.
Third:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding regarding political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Burundi.
A royal decree has been prepared in this regard.
Fourth:
The Cabinet approved a protocol to extend the agreement between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America regarding cooperation in the field of science and technology.
Fifth:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs or his deputy to discuss with the Vietnamese side a draft memorandum of understanding regarding political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and submit the final version to complete formal procedures.
Sixth:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
A royal decree has been prepared in this regard.
Seventh:
The Cabinet approved an agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus in the field of air transport services.
A royal decree has been prepared in this regard.
Eighth:
The Cabinet authorized the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Space Commission or his deputy to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of space science and technology between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Japan.
Ninth:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the General Sport Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Korea for the sports cooperation.
Tenth:
The Cabinet approved the organization of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Complex for the Prophet’s Hadith.
Eleventh:
The Cabinet approved that the Ministry of Culture is to supervise the National Museum at King Abdulaziz Historical Centre. The Cabinet also authorized the Minister of Culture to form the museum's Board of Trustees.
Twelfth:
The Cabinet approved to grant a license to Bank of China Limited and authorized the Minister of Finance to discuss any future applications to open other branches in the Kingdom.
Thirteenth:
The Cabinet appointed Jamil bin Abdullah Al-Mulhim, Eng. Youssef bin Hamad Al-Yousifi and Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Jasser as members of the private sector on the Board of Directors of the Saudi Post Corporation.
Fourteenth:
The Cabinet approved a number of promotions at 14th rank and Minister Plenipotentiary as follows:
1- Promotion of the following names to a post of (Minister Plenipotentiary) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
- Hamad bin Mohammed bin Suleiman Al-Jibreen.
- Khalid bin Abdullah bin Ali Al-Salman.
- Abdulmajeed bin Mohammed bin Saad bin Majed.
- Obaidullah bin Munawar bin Awad Al-Harbi.
- Ahmed bin Saleh bin Ahmed Al-Shehri
- Dr. Turki bin Mohammed bin Salem Al-Qahtani.
- Faisal bin Falah bin Rabah Al-Harbi.
- Ahmed bin Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Salama.
- Ehab bin Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al-Najjar.
- Youssef bin Mohammed bin Hamed Al-Balawi.
- Ali bin Saad bin Ali Al-Qahtani.
2- Youssef bin Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Dakhil Allah is promoted to the post of Chief Notary Public (14th rank) at the Ministry of Justice.
3- Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed bin Hamoud Al-Otaibi is promoted to Assistant Undersecretary of Meteorology (14th rank) at the General Authority of Meteorology and Environment
4- Abdulhadi bin Abdul Rahman bin Muhammad Al-Omari is promoted to the Director General of Environmental Metrology (14th rank) at the General Authority of Meteorology and Environment.
The Cabinet reviewed a number of general topics on its agenda and made appropriate recommendations in their regard.