Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session held at Al-Salam Palace here today.
At the outset of the session, the Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques offered condolences to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on the duty martyrs who were martyred in the terrorist bombing that targeted a number of members of the special emergency force in Asir Region while performing prayer in the mosque. The martyrs included trainees who were enrolled in pilgrim service courses.
The Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques said "The terrorist bombing revealed the extent of hatred of these criminals as well as their disregard for the sanctity of houses of Allah and the lives of innocent people, as they have a deviant thought and are stripped of all religious, moral and human values and their work has no relevance to Islam." The Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques confirmed that these acts will not affect the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the unity of its people; the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will remain a place of security and stability; and these terrorist acts and what is being carried out by Khawarij (outlaws) will not discourage security men in confronting firmly all those tempted to tamper with the security of the homeland and its achievements.
In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Minister of Culture and Information Adel bin Zaid Al-Toraifi said that the Cabinet expressed the Kingdom's thanks to and appreciation of the brotherly and friendly countries, their officials, Islamic and international organizations, scholars, sheikhs and citizens for condemning this criminal incident. The Cabinet reaffirmed the firm stances of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia towards terrorism as well as its determination to counter the deviant thought and its advocates in order to defend the security and stability of the country and citizens.
The Minister of Culture and Information said that the Cabinet praised the depth of historical relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and King Abdullah II. In this regard, the Cabinet was briefed on the results of Jordan visit paid by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, as well as his meeting with King Abdullah II and a number of Jordanian officials. The Cabinet emphasized the content of the final joint statement - issued on the occasion of the visit - which included an agreement on the importance of strengthening strategic, political, economic, military and security cooperation between the two countries as well as mutual work on countering terrorism and terrorist organizations; and that the safety and security of the two countries are integral.
The Cabinet was briefed on a number of reports on the developments of events and their repercussions in the region and the world. In this regard, the Cabinet welcomed the joint statement issued following the meeting of GCC Foreign Ministers and GCC Secretary General with US Secretary of State in Doha, which discussed the progress, the next steps regarding the strategic partnership between the two sides, and the areas of cooperation announced at Camp David Summit on May 14, 2015. The Cabinet also welcomed the statement issued by the Arab Peace Initiative Committee at its emergency meeting in Cairo which called for putting Israeli settlement groups on the lists of terrorist organizations in addition to prosecuting its members before international courts. The statement also called for the need to hold the Israeli occupation state direct responsibility for the organized terrorist crimes committed by these groups against the Palestinian citizens.
The Cabinet congratulated the Arab Republic of Egypt on the opening of the new Suez Canal project, stressing the importance of the project in developing Egypt and the movement of global navigation.
The Minister of Culture and Information said that the Cabinet reviewed a number of issues on its agenda and issued the following decisions:
First: The Cabinet approved an agreement on providing assistance to develop and train Saudi Arabia's Border Guards between the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federal Ministry of the Interior of the Federal Republic of Germany, which was signed in Riyadh on 17/05/1436H and in Berlin on 26/05/1436H.
Second: The Cabinet approved an agreement on protecting underwater cultural heritage adopted by UNESCO General Conference at its 31st session held in Paris on 17/08/1422H.
Third: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs - or his deputy - to discuss and sign with the Government of Central African a draft general agreement on cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Central Africa.
Fourth: The Cabinet approved the appointment of Ahmed bin Saleh Al-Humaidan (Representative of the Ministry of Labor) and Dr. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Sharif (Representative of the Ministry of Health) as members of the Board of Directors of the General Organization for Social Insurance.
Fifth: The Cabinet approved the following:
1- Renewing the membership Majed bin Abdullah Al-Bawardi (Representative of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry) to the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Civil Aviation for three years.
2- Appointing the following as members of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Civil Aviation for three years as of the issuance of this resolution: Eng. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Jarbue (Representative of the Ministry of Economy and Planning); Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Sumail (Representative of the General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage); and each of Dr. Rumaih bin Mohammed Al-Rumaih, Eng. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Zamil and Eng. Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim Al-Ruwaita (Representatives of the Private Sector).
Sixth: The Cabinet approved the following:
A- Renewing the membership of the following to the Board of Directors of Saudi Arabian Airlines for three years:
1- Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Mazyad (Representative of the Ministry of Finance).
2- Dr. Faisal bin Hamad Al-Sugair (Representative of the General Authority of Civil Aviation).
B- Appointing the following as members of the Board of Directors of Saudi Arabian Airlines for three years as of the date of issuance of this resolution: Dr. Walid bin Mohammed Al-Hamidi (Representative of the General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage); Eng. Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel (Representative of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry); and each of Abdullah bin Saleh bin Juma, Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz Al-Faris, Mutlaq bin Hamad Al-Muraished, Sami bin Ali Sindi and Abdullah bin Sulaiman Al-Rubaiaan (Representatives of the Private Sector).
Seventh: The Cabinet approved a number of appointments as follows:
1- Nabil bin Abdullah bin Suleiman Al-Taweel appointed to the post of Security Advisor (Rank 15) at the Principality of Riyadh Region.
2- Eng. Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Abdullah Al-Dosari appointed to the post of Mayor of Jazan Region (Rank 15) at the Municipality of Jazan Region.
3- Adel bin Jameel bin Ibrahim Arif appointed to the post of Ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
4- Othman bin Saleh bin Othman Al-Hugail appointed to the post of Undersecretary of the Ministry for Labor Affairs (Rank 15) at the Ministry of Labor.
5- Ali bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Da'hilj appointed to the post of Court Secretary General (Rank 14) at the Supreme Court at the Ministry of Justice.
6- Abdullah bin Saleh bin Abdulrahman Al-Arifi appointed to the post of Head of Sector (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Finance.
7- Saleh bin Ali bin Saleh Al-Howaireny appointed to the post of Head of Sector (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Finance.
8- Mohammed bin Hamoud bin Saleh Al-Shaya appointed to the post of Mayor of Baha Region (Rank 14) at the Municipality of Baha Region.
9- Eng. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Angari appointed to the post of Civil Consultant Engineer (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
The Cabinet also reviewed the annual report of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority for the fiscal year (1434/1435H).
