Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, today chaired the meeting of the Council of Ministers.
At the opening of the session, the Crown Prince thanked all world leaders for their expressions of support for the Kingdom on the occasion of its National Day. He also thanked Saudi citizens for their expression of unity with the leadership in determination to combat any threats to security, stability and the achievements of the Kingdom.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Minister of Culture and Information Dr Fouad bin Abdulsalam Al-Farsy said that the Crown Prince briefed the Council on consultations and meetings held by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz and the Crown Prince with leaders and envoys of other countries.
The Crown Prince said that talks with Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai concerned recent developments in regional and international arenas; Saudi efforts to promote stability in Afghanistan and the desire of the two countries to boost cooperation in all fields to serve the interests of their peoples and the Muslim nation.
The Council then discussed the continuing violence in Iraq, and urged the international community to unite to achieve security and stability in that country.
The Council discussed Israeli incursions into Palestinian cities and towns and Israel’s continued aggression against the Palestinian people and leadership, which is destroying property and infrastructure and claiming the lives of innocent people. The Cabinet called on the international community to curb Israeli aggression and intransigence that violates all international norms and laws, and asked that Israel be forced to implement international agreements and resolutions, including the Road Map for peace.
The Minister of Culture and Information said the Cabinet then reviewed domestic items on its agenda and issued the following decisions:
The Cabinet approved proposals submitted by the Shoura Council to amend articles 175, 176, 178 and 181 of the labour and labourers law, regarding formation and liabilities of the Higher Committee for Settling Labour Disputes.
Following a proposal by the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the Cabinet decided to authorize the Saudi Geological Survey Commission to be the official agency for seismological monitoring in the Kingdom, serving as the leading authority for the National Network for Seismological Detection.
The Cabinet approved continuation of the Internet Services Unit, an affiliate of King Abdul Aziz City for Sciences and Technology, overseeing Internet services, pending the transfer of personnel and relevant equipment to the Saudi Telecommunications and Information Technology Commission. Unnecessary equipment currently in use by KACST Internet Unit will, however, be transferred to Saudi Telecom.
The Cabinet approved the appointment of Salih bin Minai’a bin Salih Al-Khilaiwy as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance for Central Services and Abdullah bin Inayatullah bin Amer Al-Mitairi as Director General for Health Affairs at Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah branch of the Health Ministry.
Source: SPA
