Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session held on Monday afternoon at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.
At the outset of the meeting, the Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed aspiration that the tour of a number of countries including the Kingdom of Malaysia, Republic of Indonesia, Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam, the Empire of Japan, People s Republic of China , Republic of The Maldives, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was embarked on, would achieve enhancing and developing the Kingdom s relations with brotherly and friendly countries in all fields, praying to Allah Almighty to protect and keep safe the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and help him in serving the Kingdom and its people and in strengthening closer ties of brotherhood and friendship between the Kingdom and those countries, citing his speech in the Kingdom of Malaysia, his first leg of the tour, in which he stressed, during a meeting with His Majesty Sultan Mohammed V, King of Malaysia, Saudi Arabia s support with its full potential for all Islamic issues and its permanent willingness to help and cooperate with Malaysia in any effort or movement designed to serve the issues of Muslims.
After that the Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the outcomes of the talks the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques held in Riyadh during the week preceding the tour with President Mohammed Abdullah Farmajo of the Federal Republic of Somalia and President Prokopios Pavlopoulos of the Republic of Greece.
The Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, who is also Acting Minister of Culture and Information said the Cabinet underscored the importance of the monarch s tour, drawing attention to the respect and appreciation being accorded to visits the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques due is making as well as the strong and close ties between the Kingdom and those countries, considering the efforts being exerted by the Kingdom in fighting terrorism and achieving security and global stability based on moderation and tolerance.
The Cabinet was briefed on the outcomes of the visit of the Foreign Minister to the Republic of Iraq where he held talks with a number of Iraqi officials, reiterating the affirmation of the ties binding the two countries, and the work on ways of developing them in the interests of the two brotherly peoples.
Al-Fadhli explained that the Cabinet reviewed the latest developments at the regional and international arenas, welcoming, in this context, the resumption of Syrian negotiations in Geneva under the auspices of the United Nations, expressing hope that the negotiations would bring about a comprehensive ceasefire and a political solution to the Syrian crisis based on Geneva Declaration (1) and the UN Security Council Resolution No. 2254 in what ensures ending the suffering and bloodshed of the brotherly Syrian people, and achieving their legitimate aspirations.
The Cabinet was also briefed on a number of scientific, cultural and economic activities which took place in the Kingdom during the week, lauding, in this regard the 2nd International Nazaha Conference organized by the Saudi National Anti-corruption Commission (Nazaha) under the auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, entitled "governance, transparency and accountability".
The Cabinet also stressed that the opening of the Electronic Security Center by Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, embodies the commitment of the Saudi government, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and its keenness on whatever would contribute to the security and safety of citizens and protection of national economy, including electronic security.
Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli said that the Cabinet was briefed on the topics on its agenda, including subjects the Shura Council has conducted relevant studies. The Cabinet concluded the following:
The Cabinet approved a cooperation arrangement in the field of crime combating between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, which was signed in the city of Jeddah on 18/8/1437 H.
Second:
The Cabinet authorized the Deputy Crown Prince, the Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, or his deputy, to discuss with the Russian side a draft agreement between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Federal Republic of Russia on mutual protection for classified information, sign it and forward the final version for legal authentication.
Third:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the ministry of justice of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the ministry of justice of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in the judicial and legal fields, which was signed in the city of Riyadh on 26/5/1437 H.
Fourth:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Education, or his deputy, to sign the draft of the 3rd executive program in the educational field between the Ministry of Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Higher Council for Education of the State of Qatar as part of the outcomes of the Saudi Qatari Coordination Council.
Fifth:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs, or his deputy, to discuss with the International Organization for Intellectual Property on a draft headquarters agreement between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the International Organization for Intellectual Property and forward the final version for further legal procedure.
Sixth:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Labor and Social Development, or his deputy, to discuss with the Japanese side a draft memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of social development between the Ministry of Labor and Social Development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Japanese Agency for International Cooperation in Japan, sign it and forward the final version for further legal procedure.
Seventh:
The Cabinet approved an agreement on scientific and technological cooperation between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Belorussia, which was signed in the city of Minsk on 11/8/1437 H.
Eighth:
The Cabinet authorized King Saud University to negotiate about and sign a draft memorandum of understanding for academic cooperation between King Saud University of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Shanghai International Studies University of the People's Republic of China.
Ninth:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Culture and Information, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Press Agency, or his deputy, to discuss and sign with the Indonesian side an executive program for cooperation and exchange of news between the Saudi Press Agency and the Indonesian News Agency.
Tenth:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Culture and Information, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Press Agency, or his deputy, to discuss and sign with the Malaysian side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation and exchange of news between the Saudi Press Agency and the Malaysian Press Agency.
Eleventh:
The Cabinet appointed Fahd bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Sultan, Saleh bin Ibrahim Al-Rasheed, Dr. Aqeel bin Jamaan Al-Ghamdi, Dr. Mohammed bin Khalid Al-Abdulali, Nasser bin Mohammed Al-Subaie and Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Tamimi as members of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority for a period of three years.
Twelfth:
The Cabinet appointed Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Banyan, Eng. Ryan bin Mohammed Hamid Faez and Satam bin Abdulaziz Al-Zamil as members representing the private sector in the Board of Directors of Human Resources Development Fund for a period of three years.
Thirteenth:
The Cabinet approved a number of promotions as follows:
1- Saleh bin Mohammed bin Hamoud Al-Harbi promoted to the post of Legal Advisor (Rank 15) at the Ministry of Culture and Information.
2- Saleh bin Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al-Khunain promoted to the post of Administrative Advisor (Rank 15) at the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution.
3- Saleh bin Ali bin Mohammed Al-Qahtani promoted to the post of Administrative Advisor (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Interior.
4- Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Saud Al-Masshan promoted to the post of Administrative Advisor (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Interior.
5- Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Bahoth promoted to the post of Advisor for Regions Affairs (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Interior.
6- Saad bin Mudarhem bin Qublan Al-Kathiri promoted to the post of Director General of Expatriate Affairs (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Interior.
7- Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Salim Basoudan promoted to the post of Director General of Follow-up (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance.
8- Nasser bin Mansour bin Ali Al-Arini promoted to the post of Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Development (Rank 14) at the General Presidency of the Ministry of Education.
9- Nehayah bint Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Khunain promoted to the post of Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Guidance and Supervision (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Education.
The Cabinet was briefed on the annual report of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs for the previous financial year; the results of the performance of the Saudi Organization for Industrial Estates and Technology Zones; and the recommendations of the 16th meeting of the Ministerial Committee in charge of following-up the implementation of the decisions related to the joint GCC work. The Cabinet took the relevant instructions towards them.
