The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz chaired the Cabinet’s weekly meeting at Al-Salam Palace here today.
At the outset of the session, the King briefed the Cabinet on delegations and messages received by the King and the Crown Prince from a number of countries. Talks held with leaders, notably Lebanese Premier Rafiq Hariri, dealt with developments in the Arab region and the international arena.
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 Cabinet was informed of current developments in the occupied Arab territories, and the suffering of the Palestinians as a result of Israel’s continual aggression targeting innocent civilians.
The Cabinet stressed that the international community must take a firm stand against Israeli aggression, activate peace efforts in the region, and press Israel for compliance with international agreements. The Cabinet noted that Israel continually works to undermine any international effort to move the peace process forward, which is manifested in its current actions to foil the ‘Road Map
The Minister of Culture and Information said that the Cabinet reviewed a number of domestic issues, to direct ministries and government bodies to serve the interests of citizens and residents.
King Fahd praised the success of Saudi security forces in pursuing and apprehending terrorists and their supporters, who seek to destabilise the Kingdom, including the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. He expressed his appreciation of the unified stance of citizens to cooperate with security officials to eliminate any threat to the Kingdom’s stability.
Dr Al-Farsy said that the Council of Ministers then issued the following decisions on domestic matters:
The Cabinet authorized the Secretary General of the Tourism Higher Authority or his deputy to sign the draft agreement on cooperation in the field of tourism between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen.
The Chief of Civil Aviation or his deputy was authorized to sign the draft agreement on cooperation in the field of air transportation services between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Gambia.
The Cabinet further authorized the Minister of Interior or his deputy to hold talks with the Lebanese side to conclude a draft agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Lebanon on cooperation to extradite individuals who should be brought to justice in the other country.
The Cabinet granted the National Mining Company (Taadeen) a concession to extract iron ore in a 3.57 square-kilometre site at Al-Sawaween Valley, northeast of Dhiba Province, Tabuk Region.
Upon a recommendation by the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Recourses to review current gasoline prices, the Cabinet decided to fix the price per litre of Octane 91 gasoline at SR0.82 and of Octane 95 at SR1.02 for consumers. The Cabinet increased the profit margin for gasoline stations from SR0.0725 to SR0.09. Both increases will be effective from 31 December 2006, the statement said.
The Cabinet approved the appointment of Ali bin Abdulrahman Al-Miqbel as Director General for Financial and Budget Affairs of the Land Forces at the Ministry of Defence and Aviation; Dr Ayedh bin Binayyah Al-Raddadi as Director General of the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) at the Ministry of Culture and Information; Mohammed bin Nassir Al-Mazrooa’ as legal expert (class A) on the Commission of Experts at the Council of Ministers, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Al-Diwaish as Assistant Undersecretary for Services Affairs at the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.
Source: SPA
