The Kingdom has intensified efforts to counter extremist groups locally and abroad who
are attempting to hijack Islam, the Cabinet said here on Monday.
At a meeting chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Yamamah
Palace on Monday, the Council of Ministers said these groups were distorting Islam’s
message of peace.

Briefing the media on the outcome of the meeting, Adel Al-Toraifi, culture and
information minister, highlighted the message against terrorism of King Salman at the
World Islamic Conference Against Terrorism, which started on Sunday in Makkah.
The Cabinet also highlighted the Kingdom’s participation in the first world summit
against extremism held last week in Washington.
It said that the Kingdom has been at the forefront of tackling extremism in all its
forms.

King Salman briefed the meeting on his talks with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, emir
of Qatar and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy
supreme commander of the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates.
He also briefed the ministers on his telephone conversation with German Chancellor
Angela Merkel, during which they discussed bilateral cooperation.

Al-Toraifi said the Council of Ministers also discussed several topics on local affairs,
including the tenth national dialogue under the title “Extremism and its Effects on
National Unity.” This was part of efforts and activities carried out by the King
Abdulaziz National Dialogue Center.

The meeting authorized the foreign minister to discuss with Gabon a draft memorandum of
understanding on political issues. It also authorized the Saudi Commission for Tourism
and Antiquities to discuss a draft agreement on archaeology, museums, architectural
heritage and handicraft industries.

The Cabinet also approved an agreement between the Kingdom and Azerbaijan on the
avoidance of double taxation and tax evasion. It further approved a draft agreement
between the Ministry of Civil Service and the Kingdom of Jordan.
The meeting authorized the president of the General Authority for Civil Aviation to sign
draft agreements with the Maldives, Czech Republic and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in
the field of air transport services.

The Cabinet also approved new appointments, including Abdullah bin Ali as secretary
general of the council for tenders at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry; and
Suleiman bin Mohammed, coordinator of the council agenda, at rank 15 on the general
secretariat of the Council of Ministers.

It approved the appointment of Prince Fahd bin Abdullah as minister plenipotentiary at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Eqab bin Misfer, undersecretary for security affairs in
Madinah; Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, cultural attache at the Ministry of Education; Hamad
bin Marzouq Al-Qahtani, director general of the department of information and technology
at the Ministry of Civil Service; and Sant bin Suleiman bin Al-Mutairi, general manager
for performance monitoring of companies and public institutions.