Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, chaired the Cabinet's weekly session at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday.
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 informed the Cabinet of the contents of talks, consultations, meetings and contacts held over the previous days with the leaders of brotherly and friendly countries.
The Cabinet also reviewed reports on the latest developments and events at the Arab, regional and international arenas and on the political, security and economic circumstances in the world, which call for joint international actions. The Cabinet stressed that appropriate climates should be provided for the achievement of comprehensive, economic and social development, affirming that continued tension and instability in the Middle East has hindered this development.
In this regard, the Cabinet hoped that, along with the existing efforts supporting the peace process, the visit of the U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice to the Middle East would help this process in the Middle East, especially since the Palestinian side had been flexible.
On Iraq, the Cabinet renewed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the bloody explosions in Iraq which spread dissension and destabilize national unity. The Cabinet asserted that such actions were not in the interest of Iraq's unity, independence and sovereignty.
As for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Cabinet affirmed the Kingdom's commitment to supporting the close and brotherly relations and co-operation among member states in all fields, particularly those pertaining to the political, security and economic spheres. Concluding his statement, the Minister of Culture and Information said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions:
The Cabinet approved a proposal submitted by the Shoura Council based on a recommendation of the Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General to amend Article 95 of the Armed Forces Officers Service System, to read: "An armed forces officer who has served three years is eligible for a fully-paid 12-month and half-paid six-month sick leave".
The Cabinet also approved the proposed amendment of Paragraph A of Article 53 of the Armed Forces Personnel Service System to read as follows: "An armed forces personnel who has served for three years is eligible for fully-paid 12-month and half-paid six-month sick leave".
The final account of the National Commission for the Protection of Wild Life and its Development for the fiscal year 1423 - 1424 H was approved at the meeting.
The Minister of Higher Education or his deputy was authorized to discuss with the Azerbaijani side a draft memorandum of scientific and educational cooperation between the Ministry of Higher Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, sign it and then submit the final version for further authentication.
The final account of the Railways Authority for the fiscal year 1423 - 1424 H was approved.
The Cabinet then approved the appointment of Dr. Sultan bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed Alanqari as Security Consultant at the Ministry of Interior; Mohammed bin Ali bin Abdullah Al-Sanad as Director General for Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Commission of Investigation and General Prosecution; and Mohammed bin Sulaiman bin Mohammed Alajaji as Legal Expert (B) at the Cabinet's Experts Commission.
