Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session held at Al-Yamamah Palace here today.
At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the talks he held with President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom of the Republic of Maldives during which they discussed the means of enhancing bilateral relations and reviewed the developments on the Islamic and international arenas. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques also briefed the Cabinet on his meeting with Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad bin Amin Madani. During the meeting, the King stressed the importance that OIC continue its efforts in promoting unity of Muslims on righteousness and rejection of disunity and extremism, and in dealing appropriately with the challenges and issues faced by Islamic countries. Moreover, the King briefed the Cabinet on the contents of letter he sent to President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir of the Republic of Sudan, and on the telephone call he received from Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi of the Republic of Iraq. He also briefed the Cabinet on the outcome of his meeting with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques pointed out that the audiences he held with Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates; Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the State of Qatar; Sheikh Mohammed Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the State of Kuwait, took place within in the framework of brotherly visits for the exchange among brothers of views and opinions for the good of their peoples, in addition to discussing the overall developments in the region.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Adel bin Zaid Altoraifi said the Cabinet discussed a number of local issues and listened to a number of reports on the current events in Arab, regional and international arenas. The Cabinet praised the outcome of the meeting held by Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, with Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani and Sheikh Mohammed Al-Khaled Al-Sabah during which they stressed stances that support the legitimacy in the Republic of Yemen as it is represented by President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and support the brotherly people of Yemen. They also emphasized the willingness of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states to exert all efforts in support of Yemen's security and stability.
In this context, the Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's full support of the legitimacy and of the Yemeni people, as well as the Kingdom's emphasis on the importance of the immediate response of all the political parties in Yemen - who are willing to maintain security and stability of Yemen - to take part in the conference which will be held under the umbrella of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh. The Cabinet also reiterated the Kingdom's condemnation of all terrorist attacks and bombings that will only result in further destabilizing security and stability in the Republic of Yemen, and lead to exposing the people of Yemen to agitation and destruction.
The Minister of Culture and Information pointed out that the Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's condemnation of the terrorist armed attack that targeted the Bardo Museum in Tunis and claimed the lives of many innocent victims.
The Cabinet stressed the Kingdom's firm stances towards countering terrorism and condemning it in all forms and manifestations; the Kingdom renews its calls for a close international cooperation in fighting terrorism; the Kingdom also emphasizes that the principles of Islam prohibit treachery and killing of the innocents, and that Islam bears no ties to terrorism.
The Cabinet voiced gratitude and appreciation for the honorable stances the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states took on the offensive remarks against the Kingdom made by the Swedish Foreign Minister, as well as for the countries that rejected and denounced those remarks describing them as unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom and contradict all international conventions, diplomatic norms and friendly relations among countries.
Dr. Altoraifi also said the Cabinet reviewed a number of issues on its agenda and took the following decisions:
First: The Cabinet approved that:
1- The Saudi Credit and Savings Bank shall report to the Ministry of Social Affairs, where the Minister of Social Affairs shall chair the Bank's Board of Directors.
2- The Public Pension Agency shall report to the Ministry of Civil Service, where the Minister of Civil Service shall chair the Agency's Board of Directors.
3- The Saudi Industrial Development Fund shall report to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, where the Minister of Commerce and Industry shall chair the Fund's Board of Directors.
4- The Agricultural Development Fund shall report to the Ministry of Agriculture, where the Minister of Agriculture shall chair the Fund's Board of Directors.
5- The Public Investment Fund shall report to the Economic and Development Affairs Council, where the President of Economic and Development Affairs shall chair the Fund's Board of Directors. The members of the Board of Directors shall not be less than four members to be named by an order issued by the Premier. The rank of the Fund's Secretary General shall not be less than the Excellent Rank.
6- Any economic activity shall be transferred from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Economy and Planning.
Second: The Council authorized the President of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities - or his deputy - to discuss with the Serbian side and sign a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of tourism between the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Communications of the Republic of Serbia.
Third: The Cabinet approved that the Council of Economic Affairs and Development shall prepare organizational arrangements and mechanisms for imposing fees on unbuilt lands within the urban boundaries of cities and provinces.
Fourth: The Cabinet authorized the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation - or his deputy - to sign three draft agreements in the field of air transport services between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Governments of New Zealand, the Republic of Malta and the United Mexican States.
Fifth: The Cabinet approved amendments to the Labor Law issued by Royal Decree No. (M/51) dated 23/08/1426H.
Sixth: The Cabinet authorized the General President of Meteorology and Environment Protection - or his deputy - to sign two draft memoranda of understanding in the field of environmental protection, development and conservation, and in the field of meteorology air between the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Urban Development of the Republic of Sudan.
Seventh: The Cabinet approved a number of appointments as follows:
1- Mohammed bin Abdullah Hamoud Al-Luhaidan appointed to the post of Undersecretary of the Ministry for Educational Development (Rank 15) at the Ministry of Education.
2- Farouq bin Mohammed bin Wazeer Ali appointed to the post of Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
3- Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Badi appointed to the post of Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
4- Majid bin Obaid bin Maeili Al-Harbi appointed to the post of Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry for Teachers Affairs (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Education.
5- Eng. Nabil bin Abdulrahman bin Bakr Qutb appointed to the post of General Director of Operations and Maintenance (Rank 14) at the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque.
The Cabinet also reviewed the semi-annual report on the work of Real Property Contributions Committee for the fiscal year 2013 as well as two annual reports of the General Organization of Ports and the Capital Market Authority for the fiscal year 1434/1435 and issued the relevant instructions about them.
