Riyadh, SPA:
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Tuesday afternoon.
The Minister of Media Turki bin Abdullah Al-Shabanah said in a statement to Saudi Press Agency that the Cabinet reviewed a number of reports on latest developments in the region and the international arena. The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's strong condemnation of the terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch City of New Zealand, and all forms and manifestations of terrorism. In this context, the Cabinet stressed the Kingdom's positions calling for the need to respect religions, criminalize and combat racist rhetoric that fuels extremism and terrorism and does not serve world peace and security, and non-tolerance with those who support extremism, hatred and violence in any form, as terrorism has neither religion nor homeland, and we need to support the values of love, harmony and peace. The Cabinet expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased, the Government and the people of New Zealand, expressing its appreciation of New Zealand's Prime Minister, the Government and the people for their interaction with this terrible crime, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.
The Cabinet reviewed the Kingdom's participation in Third Brussels Conference to support the future of Syria and the region, and meetings to discuss aspects of cooperation between the Kingdom and the European Union and the joint action for Syria's security, stability and unity.
The Minister said that the Cabinet referred to the participation of the Kingdom in the 40th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, stressing the Kingdom's determination to continue efforts in the field of protecting and promoting human rights and achieving sustainable development according to a balanced methodology ranging between achieving the best systems and practices in the field of human rights and the right in development on one hand and keeping the genuine values of the Saudi Society on the other .
The Cabinet also stressed the Kingdom's warnings against racist and anti-cultural rhetoric and called on some governments to adopt balanced address and policies that contribute to the integration of Muslims in these countries into their societies, and called for issuing laws that limit racism against Muslims.
The Cabinet commended the confirmation of USA secretary of state Mike Pompeo, in support of Saudi-led coalition supporting the legitimacy in Yemen and the efforts of the Kingdom to assist Yemen against Iranian interference and the need to prevent Iran and its agents from taking control of international shipping lines in addition to the objection of the USA administration with those who might believe that stopping the support for the Kingdom is the way to end the conflict in Yemen.
On the internal affairs, the Cabinet considers the inauguration of Riyadh International Book Fair 2019 under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques under the theme "Book is the Gate for the Future" and the opening of the Saudi Water Forum entitled "Sustainable Water for Sustainable Development", as a continuation to encourage, support and show interest in the overall culture march on one hand and as part of the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to overcome all difficulties and challenges facing the water sector on the other.
The Cabinet issued the following decisions:
First
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Culture, or his deputy, to discuss with the Russian side a draft memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the cultural field between the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, sign it and forward the final version for further authentication.
Second:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Culture, or his deputy, to discuss and sign a memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation between the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The final version of the MOU will be forwarded for further procedure.
Third:
The Cabinet approved the minutes of the establishment of the Saudi-Bahraini Coordinating Council, and authorized the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom, who leads the Saudi side in the Saudi-Bahrain Coordination Council, to sign the minutes mentioned above.
Fourth:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation in the field of intellectual property between the Saudi Arabian Intellectual Property Organization of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America Patent and Trademark Office.
Fifth:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Transport and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, or his deputy, to sign a draft agreement on air services between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Lebanon. The final version will be forwarded for further higher procedure.
Sixth:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of labor and social development between the Ministry of Labor and Social Development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the Kingdom of Spain.
Seventh:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Education, or his deputy, to discuss and sign with the Slovenian side a draft memorandum of understanding on educational and scientific cooperation between the Ministry of Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia. The final version will be forwarded for further higher procedure.
Eighth:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding on cooperation and news exchange between the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) and Prensa Latina American News Agency of Cuba.
Ninth:
The Cabinet approved the organizational hierarchy and directory of the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources.
Tenth:
The Cabinet instructed the following procedures:
- Ministry of Communications and Information Technology shall undertake the supervision of post sector, draft its general policies and upgrading plans and suggesting its draft laws and amendments.
- Communications and Information Technology Commission shall undertake the organizational and regulating powers of the post sector.
- Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in coordination with the commission, shall review regulations related to post sector and submit proposed amendments.
Eleventh:
The Cabinet approved continuity of disbursing Nature of Work allowance (20%) of the starters salary of the first scale who exercise regulator or investigative acts - of the Control and Investigation Board, for five years, beginning from 24/5/1440 H, in accordance with prescribed safeguards, in agreement between the Ministry of Civil Service and Control and Investigation Board.
Twelfth:
The Cabinet approved the statue of Imams and Muazins, working at the Two Holy Mosques.
Thirteenth:
The Cabinet approved a number of promotions (15th and 14th rank) and a post of minister plenipotentiary as follows:
1- Naif bin Menahi bin German bin Saidan is promoted to the post of Mayor of Jazan Region (15th rank) at Jazan Region Principality of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
2- Prince Fahd bin Saad bin Abdullah bin Turki Al Saud is promoted to the post of Security Advisor (14th rank) at the Ministry of Interior.
3- Khalid bin Abdurrahman bin Abdullah Aba Hussein is promoted to the post of Director General of Financial Affairs (14th rank) at the Ministry of Interior.
4- Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Fahd Al-Rukabi is promoted to the post of Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Cabinet was briefed on a number of general issues on its agenda, took note and made instructions towards them.