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 results of his meeting with the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Imran Khan reviewing prospects of bilateral cooperation, and discussing international efforts towards latest regional and international developments. The King also briefed the Cabinet on the results of his official talks with the President Mahmoud Abbas of the State of Palestine, affirming the Kingdom's standing with Palestine and the rights of its people to establish an independent state with East Jerusalem (Al-Quds) as its capital.
The Cabinet hailed the agreement, based on the talks by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques with the Palestinian President and the President's talks with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and upon the desire of the Palestinian President, to establish a Joint Economic Committee and the Saudi-Palestinian Business Council. It also pointed out that this is an extension of the support and attention by the Kingdom's leadership to the Palestinian cause, politically and financially, and contribution to all that benefit the two peoples.
Minister of Media Turki bin Abdullah Al-Shabanah said, following the session, in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency that the Cabinet addressed the condemnation of the sabotage attack on two oil plants in Khurais and Abqaiq by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Interior Ministers at their 36th meeting in Muscat, their commending of the measures taken by all competent and responsible authorities in the Kingdom to deal with this blatant aggression, affirming their countries' solidarity with the Kingdom in all measures taken to protect its security and stability, defend its interests, and emphasizing joint security action to secure international freedom of navigation in the Arabian Gulf.
The Cabinet discussed the contents of the final statement of the Security and Defense Conference of the Chiefs of Staff of the Gulf Cooperation Council States and a number of friendly countries including, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Britain, the United States of America, France, Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, New Zealand and Greece, held in Riyadh, citing emphasis on their unified position against the attacks on the Kingdom and the targeting of economic and energy infrastructure, and their condemnation of these attacks, describing them as a direct challenge to the world economy and the international community. They also expressed their full support for the Kingdom's efforts to deal with these criminal acts, its right with its partners to defend itself and deter other attacks in accordance with the international law.
The Minister said that the Cabinet reviewed a number of reports on the latest developments, in the Arab, regional and international arenas, pointing out the significance of the Kingdom stress as it was addressing the United Nations, in New York, on a comprehensive international agreement to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, noting breaches to its nuclear undertakings, and exploitation of the economic returns of the nuclear agreement to finance hostile and terrorist activities in the region.
The Cabinet condemned the continued refusal of "Israel" to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and the need to subject all its nuclear facilities to the system of comprehensive safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
In addition, the Kingdom condemned the use of chemical weapons, in Syria, and calls for holding accountable for committing these criminal acts, which violate all international laws and ethical and humanitarian principles.
The Cabinet expressed congratulations to the Emperor Naruhito on his accession to the throne, and wished the friendly Japan continued progress and prosperity.
The Cabinet, also, reiterated the Kingdom's denunciation and condemnation of the suicide attack, in Lachman province, which killed dozens of people, including many children, and the attack on a mosque, in Nangarhar province, during Friday prayers, which killed more than 60 worshipers and wounded dozens, all occurred, in eastern Afghanistan.
The Cabinet stressed the Kingdom's categorical rejection, offering condolences and expressing sympathy with the families of the victims, the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.
The Cabinet issued the following decisions:
First:
To authorize the Minister of Culture or his deputy to discuss with the Brazilian side, a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation, in the cultural field, between the Ministry of Culture, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Citizenship, in the Federal Republic of Brazil and submit the final signed version, to complete formal procedures.
Second:
To authorize the Minister of Trade and Investment and Chairman of the Saudi Intellectual Property Authority (SIPA) or his deputy to discuss with the Brazilian side. a draft memorandum of understanding, in the field of intellectual property, between the Saudi Intellectual Property Authority, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property, in the Republic of Brazil and submit the final signed version, to complete formal procedures.
Third:
The authorize the Finance Ministry to discuss with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Group, in Japan, a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Finance, in the Kingdom Saudi Arabia and the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Group, in Japan, in the field of human capital development, and sign it.
Forth:
To approve a memorandum of understanding, in the field of housing, between the Government of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of India.
Fifth:
To authorize the Minister of Communications and Information Technology and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), or his deputy, to discuss two draft memorandums of understanding between the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the National Telecommunications Agency of the Federal Republic of Brazil, respectively, in the field of telecommunications and information technology, sign them and submit the two final version to complete formal procedures.
Sixth:
To authorize the Chairman of the Saudi Space Authority or his deputy, to discuss with the Brazilian side, a draft of agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federal Government of Brazil, in the field of exploration of space and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, sign it and submit the final version to complete formal procedures.
Seventh:
To authorize the Chairman of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) or his deputy, to discuss with the Japanese side a draft memorandum of cooperation between SFDA in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Affairs, in Japan, in the field of medical products, sign it and submit the final version to complete formal procedures.
Eighth:
To authorize the Chairman of SFDA or his deputy, to discuss with the Brazilian side, a draft memorandum of understanding between the SFDA, in the Kingdom Saudi Arabia and the National Health Monitoring Agency of the Federal Republic of Brazil, in the field of quality, safety and effectiveness of health products cosmetics, sign it, and submit the final signed version, to complete the formal procedures.
Ninth:
To authorize the Chairman of the SFDA or his deputy, to discuss with the Indian side, a draft memorandum of understanding between the SFDA, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Central Organization for Standard Drug Control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in the Republic of India, on organizing medical products, sign it and submit the final signed version, to complete the formal procedures.
Tenth:
To approve a Memorandum of Understanding between the General Directorate of Financial Investigation, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Financial Information Unit, in the United Arab Emirates, on cooperation for the exchange of financial information relating to money-laundering, its associated offenses and the financing of terrorism.
A royal decree has been prepared, in this regard.
Eleventh :
To authorize Chairman of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), or his deputy, to discuss with the Brazilian side, a draft agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Federal Republic of Brazil, on scientific, technical and innovation cooperation, sign the final version and summit it to complete formal procedures.
Twelfth:
The Cabinet approved promotions to 15 and 14 ranks, as follows:
1- Abdulaziz bin Isa bin Abdullah bin Radian, to the post of Legal Adviser, rank 15, at the Ministry of Defense.
2- Eng. Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Hammad Al-Aqel, to the post of Under-Secretary for Services, 15 rank, at the Mayoralty of the Riyadh Region.
3- Eng. Tariq bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz bin Husseinan, to the post of Technical Expert, 15 rank, at the Ministry of Economy and Planning.
4- Nasser bin Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Hdayyan, to the post of Legal Advisor, 15 rank, at the General Presidency for Scientific Research and Issuing of Fatwas.
5- Turki bin Fahd bin Dakhil Al-Otaibi, to the post of Administrative Consultant, rank 15, at the General Authority of the State Real Estates.
6- Dr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Olayan, to the post of Director General of Rights, rank 14, at the Ministry of Interior.
7- Eng. Saud bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al-Zikri, to the post of Civil Consultant Engineer, rank 14, at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
8- Abdullah bin Saleh bin Mohammed Al-Dahami, to the post of Civil Service Consultant, rank 14, at the Ministry of Civil Service.
9- Sulaiman bin Abdulrahman bin Sulaiman Al-Zuhair, to the post of Director General of the Office of the President, rank 14, at the Board of Grievances.
The Cabinet reviewed a number of general topics on its agenda, including an annual report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for a previous fiscal year. The Cabinet took notice of them and made appropriate recommendation, in their regard.