Wednesday  Muharram 07, 1439H

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 for bestowing incessant blessings upon the Kingdom until it has enjoyed the good, glory, security, and stability year after another, stressing that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will remain a strong fortress in which development and growth continue, while preserving its firm fundamentals emanating from the Holy Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah and keenness to apply their approaches in all aspects of life.

The King expressed his pride in what the Kingdom is witnessing, this year as it celebrates its 87th National Day, of development and growth in all fields, the enjoying of security and prosperity by its citizens and residents, providing pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors from their arrival until their departure with care and attention, harnessing all capabilities for them, continuing development of the Two Holy Mosques and holy sites, and the upgrading of services in all facilities for this noble goal. The King expressed his thanks and appreciation to leaders and officials of sisterly and friendly countries for congratulating the Kingdom on this occasion, and to citizens in all regions of the Kingdom for their congratulations, manifestations of joy and celebrations of this anniversary, which embodied the national unity and the people s cohesion, love and loyalty to their homeland. The King prayed to Allah Almighty to protect the country and its people from any harm and to perpetuate the security, safety, the good and growth for all the people so that this homeland remains proud and glorious continuing what the founder late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud started in establishing its pillars, and what has been exerted by his sons, the late Kings.

The King briefed the Cabinet on the telephone call between him and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Republic of Turkey, during which they reviewed bilateral relations, latest developments in the region and the world, and the emphasis on the depth of strategic relations between the two countries and their enhancement, and the outcome of his meeting with former President of Republic of Turkey Abdullah Gul, during which they exchanged friendly talks on a number of issues of common concern.

The Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the meeting that the Cabinet forwarded congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier and Defense Minister, on the occasion of the 87th anniversary of the National Day of the Kingdom, in which the people of the Kingdom recall the efforts exerted by late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, to unite this homeland and the efforts of his sons, the kings sequentially came after him until the Kingdom reached the current prosperous and blessed era as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his Crown Prince continue a march of the fruitful and prosperity work for this great homeland in addition to the blessed efforts being exerted to serve Islam and Muslims as well as the constructive role of the Kingdom towards various Arab, Islamic, regional and international issues based on its firm policy based on good neighborliness, respect for the sovereignty of other states, non-interference in their domestic affairs, dependence on a solid approach based on moderation, dialogue and cooperation with the international community in a way that lays the foundations of international peace and security.

Then, the Cabinet reviewed a number of reports on developments at the international arena, appreciating the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid to allocate $15 million worth of assistance to help alleviate the sufferings of the Rohingyas displaced from Myanmar due to genocide and torture, considering the gesture an extension of the previous relief aid which the King directed to help the displaced people of Myanmar to provide them with all kinds of relief and humanitarian support.

The Minister explained that the Council, then, was briefed on the activities of the 72nd Session of the United Nations in New York City, highlighting the meetings of the Kingdom's delegation with a number of foreign officials and its participation in various meetings and consultations on various issues on the international scene and topics on the agenda of the UN General Assembly. In this context, he highlighted the contents of the Kingdom's speech delivered by the Foreign Minister, citing the Kingdom's firm implications and positions on many issues on the international scene.

On the domestic level, the Council of Ministers expressed satisfaction with the contents of the 53rd annual report of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), which reviewed the economic and financial developments in the Kingdom during the year 2016 pointing that the national economy achieved has produced a positive growth rate of 1.7 per cent, the financial sector, including its various components, delivered statistical and positive indicators in 2016 that reaffirm the strength of the financial and banking sector in the Kingdom.

Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad said that the Council of Ministers has reviewed the topics on its agenda, including the subjects which the Shura Council co-reviewed earlier. The Council took the following decisions:

First:
The Council of Ministers authorized the Minister of Justice, or his deputy, to discuss with the Tajik side a draft cooperation agreement in the judicial field between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Tajikistan, sign and forward the final version for further formal procedures.

Second:
The Council of Ministers authorized the Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, or his deputy, to discuss with the Russian side a memorandum of understanding for the scientific-geological cooperation between the Saudi Geological Survey of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Russian Holding Geological Institution, sign and forward the final version for completing formal procedures.

Third:
The Council approved a general agreement for cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, which was signed in Riyadh on 19/5/1437 H.

Fourth:
The Council approved a memorandum of understanding on political consultations between the ministry of foreign affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the ministry of foreign affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, which was signed in Riyadh on 25/7/1437 H.

Fifth:
The Cabinet approved a general agreement for cooperation in the economic, commercial, investment, technical, sports and youth fields between the government Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, signed in Dar es Salaam on 14/6/1437 H.

Sixth:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding on bilateral political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, signed in Riyadh on 19/6/1437 H.

Seventh:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Labor and Social Development, or his deputy, to discuss with the Russian side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of labor, development and social protection between the Ministry of Labor and Social Development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation, sign and forward the final version for completing regular procedures.

Eighth:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, or his deputy, to discuss with the Russian side a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of communications and information technology between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Communications and Information of the Russian Federation, sign it and forward the final version for completing the regular procedures.

Ninth:
The Cabinet approved a number of amendments on the General Commission for the Guardianship of Trust Funds for Minors and their Counterparts.

Tenth:
The Cabinet approved a guidebook to the work of representatives of government instituations in joint committees.

Eleventh:
The Cabinet approved a suggestion submitted by the Minister of Labor and Social Development adding representatives to the Elders Affairs in the Family Affairs Council.

Twelfth:
The Cabinet appointed Dr. Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al-Abidi and Huda bin Abdulaziz Al-Naim as two specialized members in the Family Affairs Council for three years.

Thirteenth:
The Cabinet appointed Dr. Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al-Shafi as representative member of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development to the Board of Directors of the Social Development Bank.

Fourteenth:
The Cabinet approved a contract that the Saline Water Conversion Corporation and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Corporation (NEDO) of Japan as well as the companies implementing the "Megaton technologies would establish a reverse osmosis desalination plant in the Kingdom with the corporation authorized to go ahead with completing other procedures necessary for the implementation of the project.

Fifteenth:
The Cabinet approved the final account of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization for the fiscal year (1436/1437H).

Sixteenth:
The Cabinet approved a number of financial allowances and rewards for the employees of King Abdulaziz Complex for the Kiswah (dress) of Holy Kaaba.

Seventeenth:
The Cabinet approved a number promotions and (Ambassador) as follows:
1- Abdullah bin Ali bin Haribi Al-Marwani is promoted to the post of Planning Consultant (rank 15) at the Ministry of Economy and Planning.
2 - Abdulrahman bin Dhaifallah bin Mohammed Al-Enezi is appointed to the post of (Ambassador) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
3 - Saleh bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Mons is promoted to the post of Assistant Director General of the National Information Center (rank 14) at the Ministry of Interior.
4 - Mohammed bin Nasser bin Mohammed bin Muayibd is promoted to the post of adviser for region affairs (rank 14) at the Ministry of Interior.
5 - Dakhil bin Rashid bin Mutlaq Al-Kathiri is promoted to the post of security adviser (rank 14) at the Ministry of Interior.
6 - Adel bin Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al-Rabeeh is promoted to the post of administrative consultant (rank 14) at the Ministry of Interior.
7. Saad bin Nasser bin Abdullah Al-Sayari is promoted to the post of cases adviser (rank 14) at the Ministry of Interior.
8 – Eng. Sherida bin Farhan bin Sherida Al-Dera is promoted to the post of civil adviser engineer (rank 14) at the Ministry of Health.
The Cabinet was briefed on a number of other general items on its agenda, including the annual report of the Ministry of Justice for a previous fiscal year, and took relevant instructions.