The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh.
At the outset of the session, the King briefed the Cabinet on the two telephone contacts with President Barham Salih of the Republic of Iraq and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq, Adel Abdul Mahdi, and on his congratulations and wishes for them of further progress and prosperity as well as on confirming the deepening of relations between the two countries.
The Cabinet highly appreciated the interview made by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense to Bloomberg Agency and HRH's affirmation of the contents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's political, economic, military, security and social agenda and its strategy in the Middle East region as well as its stances towards many regional and international issues with its categorical refusal to interfere in its internal and sovereign affairs, its ability to protect its interests and maintain its security, achievements against extremist ideology and terrorism, ambitious plans for growth and reform in all fields, as well as what has been achieved in the past three years at various levels and the steady increase in budget for 2019 according to the projects of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which comes in the interest of the homeland and citizens.
Minister of Media Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad said in his statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session that the Cabinet reviewed a number of reports on latest developments in the region and the world, pointing to what the Kingdom highlighted before the United Nations in Geneva within the framework of its humanitarian responsibilities to help and support the world's peoples in their humanitarian, relief and development assistance and played a pivotal role in alleviating the suffering of the peoples as well as the Kingdom's humanitarian assistance provided for refugees around the world during the last eight years at the cost of 1.03 billion US dollars, its assistance through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at the cost of 239.7 US dollars and via the International Organization for Migration (IOM) at a cost of 93.2 million US dollars.
The Minster stated that the Cabinet discussed the statement issued by the Arab Parliament at the end of its meetings in Cairo on the peaceful solution of the Yemeni crisis, its condemnation of the Iranian intervention in Yemen through its support for the Houthi militias, threatening to the neighboring countries along with its continuous launching of ballistic missiles against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's strong condemnation and denunciation of the suicide attack, which targeted an election rally in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province and the terrorist attack on a military convoy in the province of Batman in southeastern Turkey, claiming dozens of deaths and injuries, stressing the Kingdom's standing up for the Republics of Afghanistan and Turkey in fighting against terrorism in all forms and manifestations whatever its source, offering condolences to the families of the victims, and wishing the injuries quick recovery.
On the local affairs, the Cabinet commended the generous services being provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the Holy Quran, including the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for the 40th session of King Abdulaziz International Competition for memorizing, recitation and interpretation of the Holy Quran, organized by the General Secretariat of the competition at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance in which 115 competitors from 82 countries took part, in the Prophet's Mosque in Medina.
Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad stated that the Cabinet reviewed the topics on its agenda, including some co-studied by the Shura Council. The Cabinet decided the following:
First:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Transport, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Transport Authority, or his deputy, to discuss with the Iraqi side a draft agreement on cooperation in the field of maritime transport and a draft agreement on the organization of passenger and cargo transport on land roads between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Iraq , sign them, and forward the two final verions for completing the formal procedures.
Second:
The Cabinet approved the accession of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (BUNKER) 2001.
Third:
The Cabinet approved the organizational structure of the Ministry of Justice.
Fourth:
The Cabinet approved the National Strategy for Natural Pastures in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as an operational program within the Environment Strategy.
Fifth:
The Cabinet approved the appointment of Dr. Ghassan bin Abdulrahman Al-Shibl, Dr. Ibrahim bin Mousa Al-Zuwaied, Dr. Saleh bin Ali Al-Humaidan, Eng. Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al-Obaikan and Khulood bint Abdulaziz Al-Dakhil, as members representing the private sector at the board of Technical and Vocational Training Corporation for a three-year term.
Sixth:
The Cabinet decided to form a committee headed by the Minister of Civil Service and two members, the rank of each should not be less than the 15th or its equivalent, belonging to the ministries of Civil Service and finance, as well as the Commission of Experts at the Council of Ministers. The committee shall decide on the executive regulations of the civil service system and the relevant rules and provisions. The regulations referred to shall be issued by the Minister of Civil Service.
Seventh:
The Cabinet accredited the final account of Electricity and Cogeneration Regulatory Authority (ECRA) for a previous fiscal year.
Eighth:
The Cabinet approved a number of promotions and a position of ambassador as follows:
1- Prince Sultan bin Saad bin Khalid bin Mohammed Al Saud is promoted to the position of Ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2- Abdulaziz bin Isa bin Abdullah bin Radhian is promoted to the position of director general of the administration (14th rank) at the Ministry of Defense.
3- Hamadbin Mohammed bin Ahmad Al-Haboub is promoted to the position of administrative adviser (14th rank) at the Eastern Region Principality.
4- Khaled bin Abdurrahman bin Hussain Al-Quhaiz is promoted to the position of director general of university and international cooperation relations (14th rank) at the Ministry of education.
5- Eng. Fahd bin Mohammed bin Hussain Al-Aoufi is promoted to the position of adviser for technical affairs (14th rank) at the Ministry of Education.
6- Musaed bin Ahmad bin Abdulaziz Al-Jarah is promoted to the position of adviser for cultural attaché (14th rank) at the Ministry of Education.
7- Rashid bin Khalaf bin Rashid Al-Rashid is promoted to the position of director general of the minister's office (14th rank) at the Ministry of Education.
8- Abdullah bin Nasser bin Musa Al-Musa is promoted to the position of administrative adviser (14th rank) at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
9- Abdurrahman bin Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Dualiej is promoted to the position of director general of the presidency's branch in Makkah (14th rank) at the General Presidency of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vices.
The Cabinet was, also, briefed on a number of general issues on its agenda, including annual reports of each of the General Authority for Competition and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority for two previous fiscal years. The Cabinet took the necessary instructions towards them.
