Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz chaired the Cabinet session held here today.
At the beginning of the session, the king expressed appreciation for condolences on the death of King Fahd.
In a statement to Saudi Press Agency, Minister of Culture and Information Mr. Iyad Madani said the Cabinet hoped that the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip will be a step to be followed by other steps to withdraw from all Palestinian occupied lands so that the Palestinian people can build their state with Al-Quds [Jerusalem] as its capital. The Cabinet reiterated Saudi Arabia’s adherence to the peace initiative proposed by King Abdullah to the Arab Summit held in Beirut in 2002 and adopted by the summit tas an Arab peace initiative for the region. The Cabinet stressed that this initiative, which is based on resolutions valid in international law, is the real framework for achieving just and comprehensive peace for the Palestinian cause. The Cabinet warned against threats of radical groups to storm and attack Al-Aqsa Mosque, and stressed that these threats are provocative to Muslims since they threaten their holy places.
The Cabinet reiterated hope for unity of Iraqi people to achieve their goals of security, stability and prosperity which will lead to the integrity of the their national territory, emphasis of their Arab and Islamic identity and their return as an influential member of their Ummah (Muslim nation) and of the international community.
The Cabinet condemned the crime of assassination of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on Friday, reiterated renunciation of all forms of terrorism and recalled to mind that terrorism has neither religion nor homeland.
The Minister of Culture and Information said the Cabinet then reviewed the domestic issues on its agenda and issued the following decisions:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Interior or his deputy to discuss with the Russian side a draft arrangement of cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Federal Republic of Russia in the field of extradition of the accused and convicted, sign it and forward the final version for further authentication.
The Cabinet also authorized the Minister of Justice or his deputy to discuss with the Moroccan side a draft arrangement of cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Moroccan Kingdom in the judicial field, sign it and forward the final version for further authentication.
Upon recommendations submitted by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, the Cabinet licensed Alsho'aiba 3 company for Water and Power generation.
The Cabinet approved the appointment of Abdulrahman bin Rashid Alrashid, Abdullah bin Salih Alothaim, Abdullah bin Saad Almibti, Hussein bin Abdulrahman Alazl, Ali bin Othman Alzaid, and Mazen bin Mohammed Hasan Batarji as private sector's representatives in the Board of Directors of the Saudi Commission for Industrial Cities and Technology Areas for three years.
The Cabinet also approved the appointment of Sulaiman bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Algannas as Security Consultant at Riyadh Region Governorate; Ibrahim bin Abdullah bin Ibrahim Alshathri as Secretary General of Riyadh Region Council; Ali bin Sulaiman bin Hamad Alatiyyah as Administrative Consultant at the Ministry of Higher Education; and Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Abdullah AlSubayel as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Information for Cultural Affairs.
