Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, today chaired the Cabinet’s weekly meeting at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.
At the outset of the meeting, the Crown Prince praised governmental bodies involved in the provision of Hajj services and facilities to enable pilgrims to perform their rituals in safety and comfort.
The Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on recent talks and consultations with leaders of other countries to discuss developments in regional and international arenas, notably the situation in Iraq and occupied Palestinian territories. The Crown Prince reviewed talks with Britain’s Crown Prince Charles, which boosted firm relations between the two countries.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the meeting, the Minister of Culture and Information, Dr Fouad bin Abdulsalam Al-Farsy, said that the Cabinet was briefed on developments in the occupied Palestinian territories, including the Israeli government’s persistence in perpetuating a cycle of violence by its flagrant aggression against the unarmed Palestinian people, its violation of international agreements and construction of a racial segregation wall. The Cabinet called on the international community, particularly the United States of America, for firm intervention to confront the unilateral Israeli policies and practices that undermine all opportunities for a peaceful settlement of the conflict.
With regard to Iraq, the Cabinet expressed its hope that the United Nations fact-finding mission will restore the vital role of the United Nations in the country, and hoped that the mission will promote the interests of the Iraqi people in establishing a permanent, representative and independent authority.
The Minister of Culture and Information said that the Council then reviewed domestic issues on its agenda, and took the following decisions:
The Cabinet amended articles of the vocational training act to enable university graduates to join some ranks of the National Guard. The amendments were as follows: Referring to paragraph three of the first article of the executive regulation of the amended personnel service act issued according to Cabinet decision 117, dated 10/7/1410H, the Cabinet cancelled two paragraphs, amending the treatment of graduates of vocational training centres with regard to employment procedures and the grant of technical premiums.
The Cabinet approved the final accounts of the Supreme Tourism Authority for the fiscal year 1422-1423H.
The Council of Ministers ratified the draft agreement on cooperation in the field of technical education and vocational training between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen, which was signed in Sanaa on 6 July 2003.
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Finance or his deputy to sign a draft agreement on the Encouragement and Dual Protection of Investment between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Hungary.
The Cabinet approved the appointment of Dr Saud bin Salih bin Mohammed Al-Misaibeeh as Security Advisor at the Interior Ministry; Salih bin Saad bin Abdullah Al-Mahanna as Assistant Undersecretary for Budget Affairs at the Ministry of Finance, and Salih bin Nassir bin Musa Al-Ti’ais as Labour Advisor at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
Source: SPA
