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 thanked Allah Almighty that millions of Umrah performers, visitors from all over the world, citizens and residents performed Umrah rituals and visit during the holy month of Ramadan in an atmosphere of faith provided by the Kingdom for the service of the visitors of the Two Holy Mosques and paying attention to their hospitality, convenience and safety from the time of their arrival until their return homelands. The King also thanked all concerned bodies for performing this great honor and for great exerted efforts which facilitated for the Guests of Allah to perform Umrah rituals, visit and after Isha and night prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.
The King also expressed his thanks and appreciation to the leaders of Gulf, Arab and Islamic countries for their blessed and successful efforts that contributed to the success of Extraordinary Gulf and Arab Summits and the Islamic Summit at its 14th ordinary session held in Makkah in the vicinity of the Grand Holy Mosque on the latest days of the holy month of Ramadan.
The Minister of Media Turki bin Abdullah Al-Shabanah said in a statement to Saudi Press Agency that the Cabinet congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, for the success of the three summits and their final statements, resolutions and Makkah Declaration on their positions on various issues of interest to Arab and Islamic countries, their support and solidarity with the Kingdom, unlimited support for all measures being taken to protect its national security and oil supplies, appreciation of its continuing efforts and unique experience in the field of combating terrorism and extremism, and praising the leading role of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his call to hold these summits in pursuit to unify ranks, confront challenges facing the region and maintain its security and stability.
The Cabinet affirmed that the inauguration by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques of "Program for Serving Allah's Pilgrims", which is one of the most important executive programs of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, with the participation of more than 32 government agencies and hundreds of private sector entities, confirms the King's great and clear care for Islam and Muslims, pilgrims and Umrah performers. The Program is an extension of the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since its foundation in developing the services being provided for visitors of the Two Holy Mosques to facilitate their journey until they return to their countries safely.
The Cabinet also stressed the assertion of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to adhere to the moderate Islamic approach because the Islamic nation is a moderate nation, and the importance of scholars of Muslim Ummah in uniting their views on important issues, especially with regard to confronting the ideas of extremism and terrorism. This came during the King's receiving of Makkah Document issued by the Global Conference for Moderate Islam, organized by Muslim World League , and was approved by 1200 Islamic figures from 139 countries representing 27 Islamic components of different sects.
The Minister said that the Cabinet praised the contents of the interview of HRH Crown Prince, citing the Kingdom's firm and clear positions on developments in the region, its strategic relations, the priorities of the Kingdom's national interests and the realization of its people's aspirations through the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. HRH Crown Prince also expressed the pride and confidence in Saudi citizens and the role of young people in the mobility being experienced by the Kingdom.
The Cabinet addressed the latest developments, and renewed its condemnation of terrorist and immoral acts and practices carried out by the Iranian-backed Houthi Militias by targeting civilians, the latest was the projectile targeting the arrival hall at Abha International Airport and drones targeting the same airport and Khamis Mushait Governorate.
It also renewed the Kingdom's condemnation of all acts of aggression and terrorism that threaten the freedom of navigation, the security of oil supplies and the safety of the environment, including the terrorist attack on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman. The Cabinet called on the international community to shoulder its common responsibilities and take decisive action to secure the transportation movement in waterways in the region in anticipation of the serious repercussions of such incidents on energy markets and their danger to the global economy.
The Cabinet renewed the Kingdom's condemnation of the two terrorist attacks in the Lebanese city of Tripoli and the city of ElArish in Egypt and terrorist bombings in the Somali capital, northeast Kenya and north-east of Nigeria, extending condolences to the families of the victims and to the governments and peoples of the Republics of Lebanon, Egypt, Somalia, Nigeria and Kenya, renewing the Kingdom's stand and support for all sisterly and friendly countries against all forms of terrorism and extremism.
The Cabinet issued the following decisions:
First :
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Interior, or his deputy, to discuss with the Algerian side a draft cooperation agreement on the use and replacement of driving licenses between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, sign and submit it to complete formal procedures.
Second :
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture - or his deputy - to discuss with the Japanese side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Japan for cooperation in the field of environment, sign and submit it to complete formal procedures.
Third :
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture - or his deputy - to discuss with the Algerian side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of water between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, sign and submit it to complete formal procedures..
Fourth:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Water and sanitation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, on cooperation in the field of water and sanitation.
Fifth:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, or his deputy, to discuss with the Korean side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea on cooperation, in the domain of motors, sign it and submit the final version, to complete applicable legal procedures.
Sixth:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, or his deputy, to discuss with the Korean side on a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea for cooperation, in the domain of hydrogen economy, sign it and submit the final version, to complete applicable legal procedures.
Seventh:
The Cabinet approved accession of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (Wreck Removal Convention) 2007.
Eighth:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Economy and Planning, who is also the Chairman of the Saudi National Center for Strategic Development Studies, or his deputy, to discuss with the Korean side a draft memorandum of cooperation between the Saudi National Center for Strategic Development Studies of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Korean Institute for Development of the Republic of Korea, sign it and submit the final version to complete applicable legal procedures.
Ninth:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the General Auditing Bureau of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Audit Bureau of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for cooperation, in the field of accountancy, regulation and professional workings.
Tenth:
The Cabinet authorized the Chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH), or his deputy, to discuss two draft memorandums of understanding for cooperation, in the domain of tourism, between the SCTH of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Mauritius and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in the Republic of Korea, sign them and submit the final signed versions to complete applicable legal procedures.
Eleventh:
The Cabinet approved applying the decision of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, taken at its 39th session held in Riyadh, on 02/04/1440 H, in regard of endorsing unified medical procedures' directory, at the border crossings of the GCC member states, assigning the Saudi Ministry of Health the seat of reference for relevant bodies to carry out the referred directory.
Twelfth:
The Cabinet issued the following decisions:
1. Renewal of the membership of Eng. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Jarbouw as representative of the Ministry of Economy and Planning; Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Samail as representative of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage to the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation.
2. Appointing the following as members of the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation:
- Omar bin Mohammed Al-Suhaibani as representative of the Ministry of Commerce and Investment.
- Eng. Muhannad bin Qusai Al-Azzawi, Eng. Khalid bin Musaed Al-Saif and Dr. Luai bin Mohammed Al-Akkas, as representatives of the private sector.
Thirteenth:
The Cabinet approved a number of promotions as follows:
1- Dr. Ibrahim bin Suleiman bin Ibrahim Al-Duraibi is promoted to the post of Security Adviser (Rank 15) at Asir Region.
2- Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Saad Al-Muqrin is promoted to the post of Administrative Consultant (Rank 15) at the Cabinet's Bureau of Experts.
3- Mohammed bin Masoud bin Saeed Al-Shahrani is promoted to the post of Director General of branch of control and investigation board in Madina (Rank 15).
4- Ahmed bin Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al-Dlejan is promoted to the post of Director General of Follow-up and Research at the control and investigation board (Rank 15).
5- Kamal bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Saeed is appointed to the post of Director General of the Minister's Office (Rank 15) at the Ministry of Commerce and Investment.
6- Eng. Abdulaziz bin Saleh bin Abdulaziz Al-Sulaim is promoted to the post of Undersecretary for Reconstruction and Projects (Rank 15) at Al-Qassim Municipality.
7- Nawal bint Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Qahtani is promoted to the post of Civil Service Consultant (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Civil Service.
8- Walid bin Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al-Qarawi is promoted to the post of Director General of the Office of the Minister of State (Rank 14) at the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers.
9- Mohammed Al-Hassan bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Mukhtar is promoted to the post of Assistant General Manager of Al-Madina branch of control and investigation board (Rank 14).
10- Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Muslim Suhaimi is promoted to the post of Administrative Consultant at the control and investigation board (Rank 14).
The Cabinet was briefed on a number of general issues on its agenda, including annual reports of each of the Ministry of National Guard; Ministry of Housing; Public Transpiration Commission; Real Estate Fund for previous years and instructed appropriate recommendations in their regard.