Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, chaired the Cabinet’s weekly session at Al-Yamamah Palace here today.
At the outset of the session, the Cabinet reviewed reports on the situation in the region and the latest developments, particularly the Iraqi crisis.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the Minister of Information, Dr Fouad bin Abdulsalam Al-Farsy, said that the Crown Prince highlighted the continual efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to promote a peaceful resolution of the Iraqi crisis.
The Crown Prince stressed the Kingdom’s keenness to avert a war on Iraq, maintain the safety of the Iraqi people and country’s territorial integrity. He affirmed that all parties should cooperate to find a peaceful solution to the Iraqi crisis to preserve the region’s security and stability. The Cabinet expressed hope that the Iraqi government fully cooperate with international inspectors.
The Minister of Information said that the Cabinet also reviewed the tragic situation of the Palestinian people as a result of Israeli aggression, which has destroyed the people, and their infrastructure and property. He stressed the need to put an end to this tragedy and force Israel to comply with international resolutions and bilateral agreements, and to establish an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds (Jerusalem) as its capital.
In the name of the Saudi government and people, the Crown Prince welcomed pilgrims coming to the Kingdom to perform Hajj, and wished them all success on their journeys from all parts of the world to perform this great pillar of Islam.
The Crown Prince expressed satisfaction with preparations and efforts exerted by all public and private authorities in service of pilgrims. He urged all officials to redouble their efforts to provide the best possible services for pilgrims at the holy sites, thereby achieving the cherished goals of this year’s Hajj plan.
The Crown Prince expressed the Kingdom’s appreciation of endeavours by pilgrims to cooperate and comply with regulations, instructions and directives issued by Hajj authorities, in order to promote their safety, comfort and ease.
The Cabinet then issued a number of decisions on domestic matters.
The Cabinet accredited the final accounts of the state for the fiscal years 1418-1419 H and 1419- 1420 H.
It endorsed an amendment of Article 26 of the statute of the National Company for Cooperative Insurance (NCCI) on the formation of the company’s General Assembly. The amendment, proposed by NCCI Board of Directors, explains how to form the company’s General Assembly, the choice of the venue of its meeting, and who has the right to attend.
Upon a decision taken by the Higher Economic Council yesterday, the Council of Ministers approved drafts of memoranda of understanding between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and both Syria and Jordan in the field of transportation.
Upon recommendations from the Ministerial Committee for Administrative Structuring, the Cabinet then decided to separate and upgrade the Prisons Authority. The new General Directorate for Prisons is now no longer part of the Directorate for General Security. However, the financially and administratively independent Authority will still be part of the Interior Ministry, under the direct supervision of the Assistant Interior Minister for Security Affairs. The Authority will oversee prison affairs, the implementation of orders of custody and imprisonment, and programs for rehabilitation of inmates.
Government and private sectors will form a specialized Council for Prison Affairs to provide the new Prisons Authority with the best cadre to ensure better performance and services in the Kingdom’s prisons.
The Ministry of Interior was assigned to draw up a timetable in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and National Economy and the Ministry of Planning to implement the new improvements.
The Cabinet then ordered the implementation of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit resolution, issued at its 22nd session in Muscat, Oman, in December 2001, regarding a GCC unified system to combat money laundering. The system will be pursued for three years prior to reassessment.
Source: SPA
