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 expressed thanks and appreciation to the leaders of countries, officials of states, regional and international organizations and all those who expressed condemnation of the sabotage attack on two Aramco plants in Abqaiq and Khurais, reaffirming the Kingdom's ability to deal with the effects of such cowardly attacks which do not only target vital installations of the Kingdom, but also target global oil supplies and threaten the stability of the global economy.
Minister of Media Turki bin Abdullah Al-Shabanah said in a statement to Saudi Press Agency that the Cabinet reiterated that the aim of this unprecedented sabotage aggression that threatens the international peace and security is directed primarily at global energy supplies and it is an extension of previous acts of aggression on Saudi Aramco's pumping stations by using Iranian weapons, calling on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities in condemning those behind it and clearly confronting these barbaric acts that touch the nerve of the global economy.
The Cabinet was briefed by the Minister of Energy on the serious consequences of the blatant sabotage attack on Saudi Aramco oil plants in Abqaiq and Khurais, which according to preliminary estimates, led to the suspension of quantities of crude oil supplies estimated at (5.7) million barrels, in addition to the suspension of the production of associated gas quantities estimated at (2) billion cubic feet per day, and a decrease of about (50)% of the supplies of ethane gas and natural gas liquids.
The Cabinet affirmed that this cowardly attack on the largest and most important crude oil processing plants in the world is an extension of repeated attacks on vital facilities which threatened the freedom of navigation and affected the stability of the growth of the global economy. The Cabinet stressed that the Kingdom will defend its lands and vital facilities and it is able to respond to those acts whatever their source, calling on the international community to take tougher measures to stop these blatant attacks that threaten the region, the security of oil supplies and the global economy, and to hold accountable and deter those behind them.
The King also briefed the Cabinet on the telephone call made to President Mahmoud Abbas of the State of Palestine, stressing the Kingdom's condemnation and categorical rejection of the Israeli Prime Minister's intention to annex lands from the occupied West Bank since 1967.
The Minister said that the Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's condemnation and categorical rejection of the Israeli Prime Minister's announcement that he intends to annex lands in the occupied West Bank since 1967. It considered this measure as null and void as a whole and a serious escalation against the Palestinian people and a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, the principles of the international law, customs, treaties and charters. The Cabinet called on the international community to shoulder its legal, moral and humanitarian responsibilities to face Israeli crimes and violations against the Palestinian people.
The Cabinet welcomed the decision issued by the extraordinary meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States held in Jeddah at the invitation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, praising the resolution's emphasis on the centrality of the Palestinian cause and Jerusalem (Al-Quds) to the Islamic nation, absolute rejection and strong condemnation of the Israeli Prime Minister's statement, and the steps and positions contained in the resolution to address this statement. The Cabinet also commended the statement issued by the Council of the Arab League at the ministerial level at the end of the 152th ordinary session in Cairo, and its implications towards the Israeli statement, calling on the international community, especially the Security Council, to shoulder its responsibilities to address Israeli trends contrary to the international law and resolutions of international legitimacy.
The Cabinet said that the Kingdom's holding of international competitions for Holy Quran memorization, recitation and interpretation emanates from its keenness and care for the Holy Quran. It congratulated the winners of 41st Session of King Abdulaziz International Competition for the Holy Quran Memorization, Recitation and Interpretation, which its closing ceremony was patronized on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques by Governor of Makkah Region and was organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, as 103 countries from different continents participated in this competition.
The Cabinet stressed that the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and General Supervisor of the Camel Club of the closing ceremony of the Crown Prince Camel Festival in its second edition in Taif, which received local, Arab and international participation, embodies the great attention by the King and HRH Crown Prince to sports in general and camel sport in particular.
The Cabinet approved the following resolutions :
First :
The Cabinet approved an agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Albania to avoid double taxation and to prevent tax evasion, in respect of taxes on income and capital and the accompanying protocol.
A royal decree has been prepared, in this regard.
Second :
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Zakat and Income - or his deputy - to sign a draft agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Lebanon to avoid double taxation, on income taxes, prevent tax evasion and submit the finally signed version, to complete the formalities.
Third :
The Cabinet decided to authorize the Minister of Media - or his deputy - to discuss with the Ukrainian side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Government of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Ukraine, to cooperate in the field of media, sign it, and submit the finally signed version, to complete the formalities.
Fourth :
The Cabinet decided to authorize the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Sport - or his deputy - to discuss with the Djibouti side a draft cooperation agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Djibouti, in the field of sports, sign it, and submit the finally signed version, to complete the formalities.
Fifth :
The Cabinet approved assignment of Dr. Iman bint Habas Al-Mutairi to run the duties of the CEO of the National Competitiveness Center.
Sixth:
The Cabinet approved amending the Saudi Building Code.
Seventh:
The Cabinet approved the strategy of the Saudi Grains Organization.
Eighth:
The Cabinet approved amending the Capital Market Statute and:
1- Continuation of the work of the Committee for the Resolution of Securities Disputes and the Appeal Committee for Securities Disputes, in their current form, until reconstituting them. A royal decree was made, in this regard.
2- The Capital Market Authority and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) shall establish a cooperation mechanism, in relation of the practice of keeping securities works by the pertinent departments, under the supervision and control of SAMA and establish another cooperation mechanism to carry out with the organizational powers of the members of securities depositing centers and the members of the securities clearance centers as well, subjected to the supervision and control of SAMA.
Ninth:
The Cabinet approved promotion to the 15 and 14 ranks, as follows:
1- Eng. Khalid bin Abdulhafeez bin Abdulfattah Fida to the post of Undersecretary for Reconstruction and Projects, 15 rank, at the Principality of the Holy Capital.
2- Mohammed bin Saud bin Dhaidhan Al-Jihanni to the post of Director of the Ministry's Branch, in Riyadh Region, rank 14, at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance.
3- Eng. Suwailem bin Saleh bin Suwailem Al-Suwailem to the post of Assistant Undersecretary for Services, rank 14, at the Principality of Riyadh Region.
4- Eng. Adnan bin Ahmed bin Habibullah Bukhari to the post of Deputy Director General, rank 14, at the General Directorate for Water Services, at the Principality of Makkah Region.
5- Amir bin Ali bin Khadran Al-Mutairi to the post of Deputy Director General, rank 14, at the General Directorate for Water Services, at the Principality of the Eastern Region.
6- Saad bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Misaihil to the post of Director General of King Khalid International Airport, rank 14, at the Saudi Customs Authority.
7- Mohammed bin Maeidh bin Mohammed Al Amir to the post of Director General for Administrative and Financial Affairs, rank 14, at the Saudi Customs Authority.
The Cabinet reviewed a number of issues on its agenda, including two annual reports from King Abdulaziz Foundation and Food and Drug Authority, for two previous fiscal years, and made appropriate recommendation, in their regard.