Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chaired a session held by the cabinet at Al-Yamama palace in Riyadh on Tuesday afternoon.
At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the contents of his phone call with the President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, the letter he received from the President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Abdulaziz Bouteflika and the results of his meeting with the French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, during which they reviewed and discussed the latest developments at the regional and international levels and efforts being exerted to achieve international peace and security.
In a statement to the Saudi press agency following the meeting, the minister of Culture and Information, Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad, said that the cabinet was briefed on a number of reports on developments in the region and the world, pointing to the significance of the communique issued by the Council of the League of Arab States at its emergency meeting at the level of foreign ministers in Cairo, condemning all terrorist acts committed by Iran, as well as its continuing interference in Arab internal affairs which would feed sectarian conflicts, underscoring the need that Iran desists from supporting groups that fuel these disputes, especially in the Gulf States, and demanding it to stop supporting and funding the militias and armed parties in the Arab countries.
The cabinet referred to Saudi Arabia's firm position voiced at the United Nations on the Palestinian issue considering it as the prime Arab and Muslim issue, and that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will vote in favor of a resolution on the permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people over the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Al-Quds, and in favor of the sovereignty of Arab people in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, and support the return of the Palestinian people to their Israeli-usurped land, the end their suffering and reject Israeli policies that do not respect the international laws and norms.
The cabinet also pointed to the Kingdom's position voiced at the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) held in Bonn that it is committed to shoulder its national obligations to take the necessary measures to address climate change in a way that would achieve the objectives of sustainable development in line with the Kingdom vision 2030, as well as the importance of the continuation of solidarity and unity within the Arab Group towards all issues of mutual interest, thus enhancing their influence on the negotiations.
The information and culture minister said that the cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's strong condemnation and denunciation of the suicide attack in the Afghan capital, Kabul, which left a number of innocent people dead or wounded, expressing condolences to the families of victims and government and people of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, stressing the Kingdom's stance with them against extremism and terrorism.
At the local level, the cabinet commended the remarkable progress in the performance of the State budget for the 3rd quarter of the fiscal year 1438/1439 (2017), revealing further improvement in revenues, improved public expenditure and declining deficit while maintaining the citizens basic services as first priority of government expenditure, and reflecting the progress and objectives achieved in achieving the specific goals within the fiscal offset program in the framework of the Kingdom vision 2030.
The cabinet also valued the contents of the 57th annual report of the General Auditing Bureau (GAP) for the fiscal year 1437/1438 H. that includes the financial and control auditing, as well as its specialized program and expanding the financial audit plans and programs, and activating the GAP's participation along with international organizations in a practice of leadership to achieve the United Nations sustainable development objectives.
Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad said that the Cabinet was briefed on topics listed on its agenda, some of which were co-reviewed by the Shura Council. The Cabinet concluded the following:
First: 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 Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on cooperation in health fields, which was signed in Amman on 28/6/1438 H.
Second: the cabinet authorized the minister of environment, water and agriculture, or his deputy, to discuss with the Sudanese side a draft memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of water harvesting and irrigation between the ministry of environment, water and agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the ministry of water resources, irrigation and electricity of the Republic of Sudan, sign it and forward the final version for further authentication.
Third: the cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the ministry of environment, water and agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the ministry of economy, commerce and industry of Japan, on cooperation in the field of desalination.
Fourth: the cabinet approved the organization of the Saudi Center for International Strategic Partnerships.
Fifth: the cabinet approved re-organizing of the Office of Strategic Management, at the Council of Economic Affairs and Development.
Sixth: the cabinet approved to add the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism and National Heritage, Work and Social Development, as a member of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage.
Seventh: the cabinet approved organizational arrangements related to the Royal Commission, in the governorate of Al-Ula.
Eighth: the cabinet approved organizing the National Development Fund and a number of arrangements, in this regard.
Ninth: the cabinet approved promotions to the 14 and 15 ranks, as follows:
1- Gamal bin Abdullah bin Saad al-Fuwais, promoted to the position of security adviser, 15th rank, at the Ministry of Interior.
2- Eng. Hamad bin Ibrahim bin Hamad Al-Hammad promoted to the position of Computer Consultant Engineer, 14th rank, at the Ministry of Interior.
3- Fahd bin Faleh bin Majoul al-Otaibi promoted to the position of financial adviser, 14th rank, at the Ministry of Finance.
The cabinet was briefed also on a number of general issues on its agenda, including two annual reports from the General Corporation for Desalination of Salt Water and the General Authority for Competition, on two previous fiscal years.
The cabinet, being informed of their contents, instructed to apply its recommendations, on them.
