Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, chaired theCabinet's weekly session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh on Monday.
At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince reassured all about the health of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, noting that the medical checkups which he has recently undergone proved that his health condition has been stable and satisfactory. He wished the monarch good health, praying to Almighty God to preserve him for his country and nation.
The Crown Prince expressed his appreciation and thanks to the leaders of the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Arab, Islamic and friendly countries and citizens at home and abroad for their noble feelings spelled out towards the King.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Iyad bin Amin Madani, the Minister of Culture and Information, said that the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the decisions taken by GCC leaders in their 7th consultative meeting, and on the developments of political, regional and international security issues particularly the Palestinian cause, the peace process in the Middle East, the combating of terrorism and the process of development and modernization and inter-relations in the region.
The Crown Prince stressed that the GCC's ability to confront challenges is tied to the unity in the Council.
The Cabinet satisfactorily noted the positive results of the meeting between U.S. President George W. Bush and President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, the Minister said.
The Minister said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions:
In accordance with the resolution of the GCC 25th summit held in Bahrain last year, the Cabinet decided to exempt raw and half-processed diamonds from customs tariffs.
The Cabinet also, with some reservations, ratified the final documents issued by the International Communications Federation Commissioners' conference held in Morocco from 16 Rajab - 12 Shaaban 1423 H.
Upon recommendations submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, the Cabinet named the actions considered contradictory to the GCC veterinary quarantine system and the penalties that would be imposed on violators. Violators will be held responsible regardless of whether the violation has been committed directly by themselves or through third parties. Live animals, their products, fodders, animal biological bio-products and animal tools are subject to the system. Attack on an officer while performing legal duties or resisting, threatening or objecting to him is also considered a violation. Whoever deliberately gives false information to obtain legal documents is also subject to punishment. Nobody is allowed to amend any of the documents issued according to this system or its executive regulations. Violators receive fines ranging from not less than SR5,000 and not more than SR10,000 for breaking the regulations stated in Paragraph (a) of Article (1); not less than SR20,000 and not more than SR50,000 for violators of paragraph (b) of Article (1); not less than SR10,000 and not more than SR15,000 for violators of paragraphs (c) and (d) of Article (1); not less than SR1,000 and not more than SR10,000 for violators of any other rule of this system or its executive regulations. Appeals could be considered by the court of grievance within 60 days of the date of notifying the decision to the concerned violator(s).
The Cabinet then approved a proposal by the Minister of Health to pay each of the Chairman and members of the Health Services Council a financial bonus worth SR1,000 for attending each session of the Council, provided that the total payment will not exceed SR15,000 a year.
The Cabinet approved the appointment of Dr. Salih bin Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Alaqeel as Legal Consultant at the Ministry of Justice; Hasan bin Ahmed bin Nassir Alhossein as Director General of Administrative Development at the National Guard headquarters; and Abdullah bin Rajaa bin Gobail Alharbi as Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Work Force Training and Development.
