The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz today chaired the Cabinet’s weekly meeting at Al-Yamamah Palace.
The Cabinet praised the speech by Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, at the Group of Eight (G8) Industrialized Countries’ Summit, which is currently in progress in the French city of Evian. The Crown Prince highlighted the results of the Kingdom’s cooperation with international efforts to combat terrorism, the Kingdom’s efforts to achieve a just peace in the region, and its commitment to alleviate the negattive impact of war in Iraq.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information, Dr Fouad bin Abdulsalam Al-Farsy said that the King emphasized the important contribution of citizens and residents in helping to avert threats to the Kingdom’s security, stability, and the tolerant values and principles of the Islamic Sharia.
The King lauded the efforts of security officials in the Kingdom to apprehend the perpetrators of the Riyadh bombings and those who support their criminal activities.
The Cabinet renewed the Kingdom’s rejection of terrorism in all its forms, and reiterated its affirmation that terrorism is not confined to any particular religion, country or race. The Kingdom also warned against the danger of using the recent criminal acts to charge Islam with terrorism. He stressed that the perpetrators of these crimes distort Islam.
The Cabinet welcomed the United Nations Security Council resolution to lift sanctions on Iraq, which will enable the Iraqi people to reform their institutions, reconstruct their country, restore stability and security, and create the appropriate conditions that will allow them to determine their political future.
On the latest developments in the occupied Palestinian territories, the Cabinet described Israel’s recognition of the ‘Road Map’ as a first step, which it hoped would be followed by effective, and comprehensive implementation, in accordance with the Arab peace initiative endorsed at the Beirut Summit, to achieve a just, and lasting peace in the region.
The Cabinet then continued discussions of items on its agenda, and issued the following decisions:
The Cabinet approved a draft agreement on air transportation services between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, which was signed in Addis Ababa on 26 May 2002.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs or his deputy was authorized to discuss with the Libyan side a memorandum of understanding between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Great Arab Popular Socialist Republic of Libya to establish a political consultation and follow-up committee. The Minister or his deputy was also authorized to sign the memorandum and forward it to further authorities for final endorsement.
The Council approved the appointments of Salih bin Mohammed Al-Dhaif as Security Advisor to the Governorate of Riyadh Region; Misfir bin Saad Al-Dosari as Administrative Advisor at the Ministry of Culture and Information; Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Isa as Director of the Administration of General Security Hospital, an affiliate of the Interior Ministry, and Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim Al-Moa’mmar as Branch Director General at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Source: SPA
