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 Cabinet stressed the valuable contents of the speech made by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques during the opening of the fourth year of the seventh session of the Shura Council, citing deep constants in the Kingdom's internal and external policy, its approach since its establishment by late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman, on implementing and committing to the Islamic Sharia on the basis of unity, solidarity and consultation, and establishing justice and independence of decision, maintaining security and stability, and continuing the comprehensive development process; as well as the Kingdom's pride in achieving huge developments in the past decades, and its determination to move forward in the implementation of reform programs, in accordance with the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
The Cabinet also commended contents of the annual royal speech that showed the Kingdom's commitment to the established principles and international conventions defending Arab and Islamic issues, especially the Palestinian cause, strengthening the Kingdom's standing and stances in the Arab and Islamic world, its endeavors and efforts to advance the joint Arab action, and in resolving crises and differences in the region. It also showed the Kingdom's important roles in the global economy, its policy in the stability of the international oil markets, its honor in the expansion of the Two Holy Mosques and the development of Holy Sites with projects that are considered the largest in history, serving and caring for the Two Holy Mosques, taking care of everything that achieves the comfort of citizens, improving the quality of services provided to them, and its pride in eliminating manifestations of extremism.
Minister of Media, Turki bin Abdullah Al-Shabanah, said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency that the Cabinet expressed its thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for his patronage of laying the foundation stone for the Diriyah Gate Project to restore the historic area as a cultural heritage project, and to return it to its ancient past and to be a tourist, cultural, local and international destination that embodies the march of the Kingdom since the establishment of the first Saudi state. The Project reflects the King's interest and care for Diriyah that represents the starting point of the Saudi state, a beacon of the continued legacy of the Kingdom's history, and tells the stories of glorious history and the epic and blessed national unity. The Cabinet commended the supervision and follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority on this national project.
The Cabinet touched upon the unlimited support of the wise leadership in the fields of culture and cooperation with countries to promote peace and dialogue, pointing in this context to the election and winning of the Kingdom of a seat in the Executive Council of "UNESCO", to confirm its international status and role in building peace and contributing effectively to the establishment of the principles of culture. The Cabinet pointed also in this context to the opening of Saudi Cultural Exhibition in Paris organized by the Ministry of Culture, the Royal Commission for the province of AlUla, and the Misk Institute of Arts, to promote global cultural exchange coinciding with the Forum of Ministers of Culture 2019.
The Cabinet expressed its congratulations to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on its fiftieth anniversary, and the voice it embodied during its march, and how it sought to protect the interests of the Islamic world until it became the second-largest intergovernmental Organization after the United Nations. The Cabinet also expressed its appreciation to the Organization and its advisory support bodies and all their staff for their efforts in serving and defending the causes of the Islamic world and achieving the overall objectives of enhancing cooperation among the Member States to become a model for joint Islamic action in various fields.
The Minister pointed out that the Cabinet reviewed latest developments in the region and its repercussions on the security and stability of the region, reiterating the Kingdom's rejection of the US administration's statements on the Israeli settlements in the West Bank, affirming that Israel's construction of settlements is contrary to the resolutions of international legitimacy and international law, and achieving a lasting peace requires the full realization of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and the resolutions of the international legitimacy.
The Cabinet condemned continued violations and breaches by Iran of international conventions and treaties relating to its nuclear program, welcoming the joint ministerial statement of the three European parties to the agreement and the High Representative of the European Union, and the decision of the United States of America to end the exemption of Iran's Fordo nuclear facility from sanctions, stressing the need for the international community to take a firm and similar position towards Iran's violations because of the undermining of international peace and security.
The Cabinet issued the following decisions:
First:
The Cabinet 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 Kyrgyz Republic.
Second:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Maldives for cooperation in health fields.
Third:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of retirement between the Public Pension Agency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the National Social Insurance Authority (Social Insurance Fund for Government Sector Employees) in the Arab Republic of Egypt.
A royal decree has been prepared in this regard.
Fourth:
The Cabinet authorized the Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), or his deputy, to discuss with the Indonesian side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Food and Drug Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the National Agency of Drug and Food Control of Republic of Indonesia in the field of quality control and safety of pharmaceutical products, and sign the final version to complete formal procedures.
Fifth:
The Cabinet approved the amendment of two articles (the 55th & 56th) of the Religious legal Procedures to read as follows:
Article 55:
" Had the plaintiff did not attend any of the lawsuit sessions and did not submit a plea acceptable to the court, the court will have the right to nonsuit the case. Then, if 60 days have passed and the plaintiff did not request proceeding with the case after having been dropped, or did not show up after it has resumed, the case will be considered as if it was not filed at all. However, if the complainant appealed that the court would reconvene, the court should, spontaneously, rule that the case is considered as if it was no longer existing".
Article 56:
" Had the plaintiff did not attend any of the lawsuit sessions, according to the contents of Article 55 of this system, the defendant will have the right to request the court to issue a rule in the case and the court should meet the request, if it is the right court to rule in such a case. However, its rule is considered as if the plaintiff has attended".
A royal order is being prepared on the issue.
Sixth:
The Cabinet approved privatizing the Production of veterinary vaccines Center (virus and bacterial) according to the proposed sample shown in the report regarding complementing the necessary legal requirements to complete the measures pertaining to the proposed process for privatizing the center.
Seventh:
The Cabinet approved the regulation of preferring the domestic content, local small and medium businesses and the companies listed on capital market in terms of businesses and procurements.
Eighth:
The Cabinet approved promotions to the 15th and 14th ranks as follows:
1- Khalid bin Omar bin Abdullah Al-Sad-han to the post of Director General of the Office of the Deputy Minister of Interior (15th rank) at the Ministry of Interior.
2- Ahmed bin Abdulrahman bin Othman Al-Yahya to the post of Director General of Legal Affairs and International Cooperation (15th rank) at the Ministry of Interior.
3- Mansour bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Alrshoud to the post of Security Advisor (15th rank) at the Ministry of Interior.
4- Abdulkarim bin Ibrahim bin Ali Allihaidan to the post of Economic Expert (15th rank) at the Ministry of Economy and Planning.
5- Ali bin Mohammed bin Mohammed Al-Amro to the post of Adviser of Regions Affairs (14th rank) at the Ministry of Interior.
6- Eng. Saeed bin Ali bin Ahmed Al-Ghamdi to the post of Assistant Undersecretary for Development Affairs (14th rank) at Al Baha Region Governorate.
7- Fahd bin Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Arini to the post of Security Advisor (14th rank) at the Ministry of Interior.
8- Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Suleiman Al-Badr to the post of Chief Notary Public (14th rank) at the Ministry of Justice.
9- Badr bin Nasser bin Fakhir Alfraidi to the post of Chief Notary Public (14th rank) at the Ministry of Justice.
10- Dr. Mohammed bin Ali bin Abdullah Al Jarallah to the post of Chief Notary Public (14th rank) at the Ministry of Justice.
11- Hammad bin Mohammed bin Hammad bin Nassif to the post of Chief Notary Public (14th rank) at the Ministry of Justice.
12- Fayez bin Juhaim bin Dhamiri Al-Ruwaili to the post of Director General of Water Department, Al-Madina branch, ( 14th rank) at the Ministry of Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
13- Sulaiman bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Twalh to the post of Administrative Advisor (14th rank) at Public Prosecution.
The Cabinet was briefed on a number of general issues on its agenda, including two annual reports affiliated to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the General Establishment of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center.