The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz chaired the Cabinet's weekly session held at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh on Monday.
At the outset of the session, the Cabinet expressed to the Monarch their appreciation for the improvement and progress of Jubail and Yanbu Industrial Cities which have become national symbols of the ability of Saudi citizens to build civilization. The Cabinet noted that the progress and advancement of Jubail Industrial City have ensued from the unlimited support provided by the King who assumed the chairmanship of the board of directors of Jubail and Yanbu Royal Commission until it has reached this advanced technological and productive stage.
Reviewing the inauguration of projects in the Eastern Region in general and Qateef, Al-Ahsa and Industrial Jubail City in particular by Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, the Cabinet stressed that the projects will contribute to support the economy and provide jobs for citizens. The Cabinet indicated that the finance of laying the foundation stones and the inauguration of 26 governmental and private projects amounted to SR 64 billion.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Dr. Fuad bin Abdulsalam Al-Farsi, the Minister of Culture and Information, said that the Cabinet had expressed their appreciation for the Crown Prince's visit to the Eastern Region which will serve the interest of citizens, cities and governorates of the region. The visit is also an opportunity to take soundings of the needs and wishes of citizens.
The Cabinet was then briefed by princes and ministers on the preparations, measures and arrangements taken by various governmental departments for the service of pilgrims during the hajj and the efforts of these departments in implementing the general plan set by the government to achieve its objectives as is customary every year. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Kingdom's government and people have welcomed pilgrims who started arriving in the Kingdom to perform Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, Dr. Al-Farsi said, and added that the monarch emphasized the importance of doubling efforts of the departments concerned with the service of pilgrims, of mobilizing all material and human capabilities and of working sincerely to meet all pilgrims' needs.
The King advised pilgrims to keep away from anything that might disturb their Hajj or affect their brothers, urging them to perform their Hajj rituals sincerely.
In his own name and on behalf of Saudi people and government, King Fahd offered condolences to the leaders and peoples of Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Bangladesh on the devastating earthquake which had led on Sunday to the killing of thousands of victims. The Kingdom wished the injured a quick recovery.
The Minister of Culture and Information added that the Cabinet also reviewed reports on the latest developments in the region and the world.
He said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions:
The Council of Ministers authorized the Minister of Interior or his deputy to discuss with the Jordanian Interior Ministry a draft agreement on cooperation between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the field of civil defense, to sign it on behalf of the Saudi side and forward the final version of the agreement for further authentication.
The Cabinet approved the draft General agreement on cooperation between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Kingdom of Sweden which was signed in Riyadh on 17 January 2004.
The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance or his deputy was authorized by the Cabinet to discuss with the Guinean side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance of the Kingdom and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs of the Republic of Guinea. The Minister was also authorized to sign the draft agreement on behalf of the Saudi side and forward the final version for endorsement.
The Cabinet approved the appointment of Hamad bin Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Alma'jel as Architectural consultant engineer at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Mit'eb bin Abdullah bin Ghassab bin Mandeel as Administrative Consultant at the Ministry of Interior; and Ali bin Mohammed bin Samman Al'amri as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
