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.
At the outset of the session, the King briefed the Cabinet on the telephone call made to King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco, and his meetings with President Danny Faure of the Republic of Seychelles and Prime Minister of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev.
The Minister of Media Turki bin Abdullah Al-Shabanah said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session that the Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's total rejection and denunciation of the declaration issued by the United States Administration to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Height, and the Kingdom's assertion of its firm position on the Golan Height that it is an occupied Syrian Arab land in accordance with relevant international resolutions and that attempts to impose a fait accompli do not change facts. It also said that the declaration of the United States Administration is a clear violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of the international law, as well as relevant international resolutions, and it will have great negative effects on the peace process in the Middle East, security and stability of the region. The Cabinet renewed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's calling on all parties to respect the resolutions of the international legitimacy and the Charter of the United Nations.
It stressed the Kingdom's strong denunciation and condemnation of armed attacks in Somalia, Afghanistan and Mali.
The Cabinet reviewed some economic and cultural activities that took place during the week. In this regard, the Cabinet said that the King's launching of four major quality projects in Riyadh, amounting to SR 86 billion, is a great leap forward towards improving the quality of life and providing opportunities for investors from within and outside the Kingdom, in the framework of achieving the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The Cabinet praised the efforts of the Committee of Major Projects, under the chairmanship of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, which is responsible for these four projects that will contribute to the creation of 70,000 new job opportunities for citizens in different sectors.
The Minister said that the Cabinet affirmed that the patronization of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques of the 41st King Faisal International Prize, and the prize's giving away ceremony as well as his patronage of the opening of the Arab Archives Conference, embody the monarch's keenness to encourage scientists and honor them, in addition to the Kingdom's keenness to consolidate its relationship with science and knowledge.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' patronage of the 3rd King Abdulaziz Camel Festival is also considered an appreciation of the efforts exerted to take care of camels and encourage their owners through organizing this annual event, which is concerned with this genuine and deep-rooted heritage in the Kingdom's history.
The Cabinet issued the following decisions:
First:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Justice, or his deputy, to discuss with the Russian side a draft memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, sign it and forward the final version to complete formal procedures.
Second:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of health between the Saudi Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the National Authority for Health Assessment and Accreditation of the Republic of Tunisia.
Third:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of intellectual property between the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Korean Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Korea.
Fourth:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the General Auditing Bureau of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government Accountability Office of the United States of America on cooperation and exchange of experiences.
Fifth:
The Cabinet approved the National Strategy for Culture.
Sixth:
The Cabinet approved the organization of the Support and Liquidation Center.
Seventh:
The Cabinet endorsed the organization of the Environment Fund.
Eighth:
The Cabinet decided the following:
1- Establishing the National Center for Meteorology; the National Center for Plant Covering Development and Combating of Desertification; the National Center for Environmental Compliance Control; and the National Center for Wildlife Development.
2- Cancellation of the General Authority for Meteorology and Environment Protection and the Saudi Commission for Wildlife, so that they shall continue to exercise their current duties until the above-mentioned centers come into force according to their relevant regulatory plans.
Ninth:
The Cabinet endorsed the resolution issued by the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at its 39th session held in Riyadh on 2/4/1440 AH, adopting the guiding act on the prevention of violence, exploitation and family abuse for the GCC Countries, in its capacity as a guiding law for a four-year term.
Tenth :
The Cabinet approved the following promotions at the 15th and 14th ranks:
1 - Saad bin Abdullah bin Fahd Al-Anqari was promoted to the position of Under-Secretary for Security Affairs at the Governorate of Hail Region (15th rank).
2- Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Hamdan was promoted to the position of Director General of the Makkah Region Branch of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance (14th rank)
3 - Mohammed bin Rizeeq bin Sulaiman Al-Harbi was promoted to the post of Director General of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Health, (14th rank).
4- Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabiah was promoted to the position of Director General of Riyadh Region Health Affairs of the Ministry of Health (14th rank).
5 Abdullah bin Nasser bin Abdullah bin Ali Miqbel was promoted to the post of Director General of Asir region Health Affairs of the Ministry of Health (14th rank).
6 - Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Dowaihi was promoted to the post of Director General for Administrative Development at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs (14th rank).
7 - Engineer Abdullah bin Musleh bin Salem Al Qahtani was promoted to the position of Agricultural Counselor Engineer at Asir region (14th rank).
The Cabinet was briefed on a number of general issues on its agenda, including the annual reports of Saudi Press Agency (SPA), and the Saudi Export Development Authority, covering two previous fiscal years.