Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, chaired the Cabinet’s weekly session at Al-Salam Palace here today.
At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince praised Almighty God for the success of the pilgrims’ performance of this year’s Hajj, and prayed that God may accept their good deeds. He wished them a safe return to their countries.
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 lauded the great efforts exerted by various ministries, and public and private organizations, which enabled pilgrims to perform their rituals with ease and comfort.
The Crown Prince issued directives to princes, ministers and officials responsible for Hajj affairs to begin preparations for next year’s Hajj season, in order to provide the best possible services and facilities for pilgrims.
The Cabinet reiterated its support for the final communiqué issued by the 15th Arab Summit Conference held in Sharam Al-Sheikh, Egypt. The Summit stressed the Arab desire to promote a peaceful resolution of the Iraqi crisis, in order to save Iraq, its people and the whole region from the dangers of war, and the concomitant threats to the security and stability of Arab countries. The Summit also reaffirmed the necessity that a peaceful solution be achieved within the framework of international legitimacy.
The Cabinet emphasized the importance that the international community, particularly the United Nations, persist in its efforts to find a peaceful settlement of the issue, and that Iraq comply with these efforts. In this regard, the Cabinet noted the Kingdom’s assertion at the 13th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, which recently concluded in Malaysia, that sufficient opportunity should be provided to pursue a peaceful settlement and to avert war.
The Cabinet expressed its deep concern about the suffering of the Palestinian people in their territories as a result of aggressive Israeli practices. It affirmed its support of the final statement of the Arab Summit with regard to the situation in occupied Palestine. The Summit reaffirmed its commitment to maintain political, material and moral assistance for the Palestinian people, their brave Intifada and their legitimate resistance of the occupation.
The Cabinet then took a number of decisions on domestic issues as follows:
Based on the recommendations of the Supreme Economic Council, it decided to establish a Saudi stock company to be named “Manufacturing and Energy Services Company”. The Pension Authority was transferred to an independent public establishment to be named “The Public Establishment for Retirement”. The new body will be run by a Governor, who will also serve as Deputy Chairman of its Board of Directors.
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Interior or his deputy to discuss with the Malaysian side a draft security agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Malaysia. The Minister or his deputy is also authorized to sign the agreement.
The Cabinet endorsed a draft agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of France on the encouragement and protection of mutual investments between the two countries, and the annexed protocol, which was signed in Jiddah on 26 June 2002.
Source: SPA
