Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chaired a cabinet session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh on Monday.
At the outset of the meeting, the vice custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the cabinet on the contents of the message sent by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of Kuwait, the contents of the telephone call the monarch received from President Joko Widodo of the Republic of Indonesia, and a meeting at his guest residence in Indonesia with Indonesian foreign minister, as well as his talks with foreign minister of New Zealand.
Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Adel bin Zaid Altoraifi, explained in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the meeting, that the Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques forwarded thanks to and an appreciation of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for his efforts and keenness to develop and enhance the Kingdom's relations with sisterly and friendly countries, noting his aspiration and optimism of the fruitful results of the visit the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques is embarked on in Japan on Sunday, given the strong ties binding the two friendly countries envisaged to enhance them in all fields.
On the latest developments on the Arab and Islamic arenas, the Council lauded the decisions adopted at the closing of the 147th session of the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers, which concluded in Cairo. In this context, the Cabinet expressed appreciation of the Arab foreign ministers for thanking the Arab coalition, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in support of Yemen's legitimacy and people, the resumption of the peace process, and endeavors to stop war and restore the Yemeni state. The Cabinet also appreciated the humanitarian role being played by King Salman Relief Center and Humanitarian Works in providing assistance to the Yemeni people, also expressed appreciation for the statements unilaterally condemning the coup leaders in Yemen, their violations against the people of Yemen as well as the Iranian continual interventions that violate the security and stability of Yemen.
The Cabinet stressed the decisions of the session, confirming the full commitment and adherence to the Arab peace initiative without change, and the need to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable rights.
The Cabinet reiterated the condemnation the Kingdom issued against the terrorist attack which took place at the military hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, the attack, which targeted a military base in the Republic of Mali, and its support for both countries of Afghanistan and Mali, the condolences to the families of the victims and to the governments and people of Afghanistan and Mali, appealing to Allah Almighty for a speedy recovery to the injured, and that God spares the two brotherly countries and their peoples any harm.
The Cabinet highlighted a number of activities and events that have been carried out during the week, praising, in this regard, the auspices of the Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques of the closing ceremony of the second joint tactical exercise "homeland 87", the launch of Mohammed bin Naif Center for special operations and applications in Madinah, stressing that the exercise reflected the high skills of security men from various sectors, in regard of training and upgrading, in the service of the religion, nationals, expatriates, pilgrims, Umrah doers and visitors, in addition to devotion to best serve the motherland against the aggressors.
The Cabinet lauded awarding bachelor degrees to various prisoners, in various specialties, recalling a royal instruction to pave the way for them to proceed up to post-graduate levels, a fact that embodies great attention paid for the youth and the reformatory as well as educational role played by state for inmates prisoners, in the Kingdom, in line with respecting human dignity through providing them with access to knowledge, along with Kingdom's endeavors to fight extremist thought and combat of terrorism.
The Cabinet expressed appreciation of great efforts exerted by security men for following up and pursuing those involved in different terrorist-like crimes against nationals, security men, public as well as private possessions, in addition to outlaws and sedition seeking to wreak havoc, in the public domain and threatening safety of the public, underscoring significance of non-leniency towards such acts and behaviors, that would affect public order and law, threatening public safety, wreak havoc and/or hindrance of security men, in fulfilling their duties and tasks, in maintain public order and the safety of nationals and residents, as well.
The Cabinet expressed looking forward at the working visit of the Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz to the US, next Thursday, during which he is set to meet with the US President Donald Trump and other senior officials, praising profound bilateral relations binding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America, and mutual keenness to promote and consolidate them, to best serve the common interests of the two friendly countries.
The Cabinet extended thanks and appreciation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Deputy Crown Prince for support and patronage of culture, science and knowledge, pointing, notably, to the opening of 2017 edition of Riyadh Book Fair, under the motto: The Book...A Vision and Transforation, to visually embody the Kingdom 2030 Vision and the National Transformation 2020, with participation of as many as 550 local, Arab, regional and world publishing houses, displaying over than 1.8 million differnt titles.
Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Adel bin Zaid Al-Toraifi said that, then the Cabinet reviewed various topics on its agenda, including issues studied by Majlis Al-Shura and concluded that:
Firstly: the cabinet approved security-related agreement between the Saudi Government and Bosina Herzegovina's Cabinet, signed in Jeddah, on 9/8/1437, and a royal decree was made, in this regard.
Secondly: the cabinet authorized the minister of health, or his deputy, to discuss with the Sudanes side on a draft of cooperation program, in the domain of taking advantage of medical cadres, between the ministry of health of the Kingdom and the Sudanese ministry of health, sign it, in the context of the Joint Saudi-Sudanese Committee.
Thirdly: the cabinet approved authorizing the minister of health, or his deputy, to discuss with the Maldives' side, in regard of a draft of memorandum of understanding (MoU), between the ministry of health of the Kingdom and the ministry of health of the Maldives, on cooperation in the health-related domains, sign it and submit the final co-signed version, to complete applicable regulatory procedures.
Fourthly: the cabinet approved deputizing the minister of commerce and investment and the chairman of the general authority for small and medium size enterprises, or his deputy, to discuss with the Turkish side, in terms of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), in the aspect of small and medium size enterprises, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the organization for development of small and medium size enterprises, the Republic of Turkey, sign it, and submit the final co-signed version, to complete applicable regulatory procedures.
Fifthly: the cabinet approved deputizing the minister of foreign affairs, or his deputy, to discuss with the US side over a draft-agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the United States of America, in terms of consular privileges and immunities, sign it and submit the final co-signed version, to complete applicable regulatory procedures.
Sixthly: the cabinet approved deputizing the minister of foreign affairs, or his deputy, to discuss with the British as well as the Korean sides, in regard of two draft memorandum of understanding between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the United Kingdom of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Korea, in regard of organizing awarding Saudi nationals as well as British and Korean nationals entry visas, sign them and submit the two finally co-signed versions, to complete applicable regulatory procedures.
Seventhly: the cabinet approved authorizing the minister of energy, industry and mineral resources, or his deputy, to discuss with the Chinese side, in regard to the program of taking part in backing up main capacities' projects and coordinate investment between the ministry of energy, industry and mineral resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the National Commission for Development and Reform in the People's Republic of China, sign it and submit the final co-signed version, to complete applicable regulatory procedures.
Eighthly: the cabinet approved enforcing all public corporations, commissions, funds and other public artificial persons to coordinate with the ministry of civil service, prior to proceed on appointment or promotion to a post falling in 12,13,14,15 ranks, on the public servants salaries' scale or equivalent, on other scales, to verify meeting of required conditions to fill the post and ascertaining of suitability of the candidate to fill the post, in accordance with a form, especially, drafted by the ministry of civil service, for the purpose, and shall be signed by the prime manager, at the department, before sending to the minister of civil service.
Ninthly: following a report by the minister of commerce and investment over adding a provision calling for publicly defaming perpetrators of cheque issuance crimes, and following being briefed on a made recommendation by the Council for Economic, Development Affairs on 19/5/1438 AH, the Cabinet approved amending the paragraph non 2 of the item (Fourthly) of its decision no. 75 on 15/3/1431 AH, by adding the next coming provision to it: "If there are no newspaper, there, then, in its nearest region, or through publishing in another suitable medium, at the expense of the culprit."
Tenthly: the cabinet approved re-formation of Jeddah Real Estate Development Board, based on the Council for Economic and Development Affairs, as follows:
1- Mayor of Jeddah Governorate
2- Representative of Makkah Region Principality
3- Representative of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs
4- Representative of the Ministry of Finance
5- Representative of the Ministry of Cultural and Information
6- Representative of the Ministry of Commerce and Investment
7- 5 Representatives of the private sector to be named by the Board of the Public Investment Fund.
Eleventh; the cabinet approved promotions to 14 and 15 ranks, on the post of ambassador and minister plenipotentiary, as following:
1- Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman bin Faleh Al-Faleh promoted to Administrative Counselor, 15 rank, at the Presidency for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
2- Ali bin Saleh bin Suleiman promoted to Administrative Counselor, 15 rank, at the Public Administration Institute.
The Cabinet, also, approved promotion to the post of ambassador, at the ministry of foreign affairs, of the following:
1-Faisal bin Hamid bin Ahmed Mua'alla.
2-Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al-Shayie.
3-Adnan bin Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Al-Mandeel.
The cabinet also approved the following:
1-Promotion of Eng. Fareed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Al-Hussein to the post of Assistant Director General of the National Information Center), 14 rank, at the ministry of interior.
2- Promotion of Faisal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al-Khinaini to the post of minister plenipotentiary, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
3- Promotion of Khalid bin Kamal bin Ali Faqih to post of minister plenipotentiary, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
4- Promotion of Dr. Mohammed bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al-Miqbil to the post of Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign relations and Libraries' Affairs, 14 rank, at the Ministry of Education.
5- Promotion of Eng. Abdulaziz bin Assa'ad bin Ali Damanhuri to the post of Assistant Undersecretary for Umrah Affairs, 14 rank, at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
6- Promotion of Saleh bin Mohammed bin Ali Al-Jarrallah to the post of Assistant Director General of the Resolutions and Rules, 14 rank, at the Ministry of Finance.
7- Promotion of Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Qaud to the post of Sharia-wise Counselor, 14 rank, at the General Presidency for Scholarly Research and Ifta.
The cabinet was briefed on various general issues on its agenda, too, including the annual report and executive summary on the findings of financial audit and performance checkup, carried out by the Bureau of General Audit over governmental apparatuses, over the previous fiscal year.
The cabinet was, also, informed of the reports as well as the findings, and, consequently, recommended over them.
