Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, today chaired the Cabinet’s weekly meeting.
On the occasion of the Saudi National Day this Thursday, the Crown Prince congratulated Saudi citizens and highlighted the government’s efforts to promote unity and development in the Kingdom.
In his statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the meeting, Minister of Culture and Information Dr Fouad bin Abdulsalam Al-Farsy said that the Crown Prince stressed the importance of unity among citizens and said that the achievement of prosperity and stability would be realized only with national unity, solidarity between the citizens, leadership, and security and armed forces.
The Cabinet expressed regret over the ongoing instability in Iraq and urged the international community to unite in efforts to pacify that country.
The Cabinet condemned the continuation of criminal and provocative acts by Israeli authorities in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Cabinet reiterated its call for citizens’ full cooperation with governmental representatives conducting the population and housing census currently underway in the Kingdom.
Dr Al-Farsy said that the Council of Ministers then reviewed items on the domestic agenda and issued the following decisions:
The Cabinet approved a proposal submitted by the Minister of Defence and Aviation to implement Article 18 of the Army Officers Service System retroactively, in order that it not contradict the retirement and promotion terms of officers of aviation who were appointed before issuance of the amendment.
The Interior Minister or his deputy was authorized to sign a draft agreement of cooperation between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Turkey in the field of extradition of convicted and indicted individuals. The final version of the agreement will be forwarded for further approval.
The Cabinet endorsed the World Health Organization’s framework agreement on tobacco. A royal decree will be issued in this regard.
The Council of Ministers approved the International Code on Ships and Port Utilities Security and its 2002 amendments on the International Agreement of Aviation Safety of 1974 issued by the Diplomatic Conference held at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London from 9-13 December 2002 to accredit a mechanism aimed at protecting countries threatened by dangerous sea-faring vessels.
The Cabinet approved the appointment of Saeed bin Mohammed bin Jumae Al-Jumae as Administrative Advisor at the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Abdul Aziz bin Mohammed Hindi Al-Dibayan as Director General of the Training and Scholarships Department at the Ministry of Education.
Source: SPA
