The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz chaired the weekly session of the Council of Ministers here today. At the beginning of the session, the King talked about the implications of celebrating the 75th anniversary of the national day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which falls on Friday.
During the national day, the Kingdom recalls the epic story of unity carried out by the late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud and his men. This unity is the basis for the Kingdom's strength, stability and its blesses, which is topped by the bless of Islam, defending it and serving its holy places, the King said.
The King explained that since its foundation, the Kingdom has followed a clear course of adhering to Islam and to a commitment to advance the citizens and to develop the homeland.
In its foreign policy, the Kingdom has followed a balanced policy based on Islamic teachings, non-interference in the affairs of others, boosting stability of world economy and supporting just causes of the Arab world and Islamic nation, a policy by means of which the Kingdom has earned the respect and admiration of the international community, the King added.
The King said that on this dear national occasion, there will be an opportunity for the followers of the deviant group to reconsider and immediately surrender themselves to the security authorities and return to the right path.
In his statement to the Saudi Press Agency, the Minister of Culture and Information,
Mr. Iyad bin Ameen Madani, said the Council discussed Saudi participation in the meeting of the 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The King expressed appreciation for the efforts of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, who led the Saudi delegation to that summit and who, on behalf of the King, delivered a comprehensive speech that included Saudi rejection and denunciation of terrorism, support for sustainable development of the developing countries and support for enhancement of security and peace in the world.
The King pointed to the Saudi proposal of a draft resolution by the General Assembly calling for the formation of a task force to study recommendations by the International Anti-Terrorism Conference which was held in Riyadh in February, including the establishment of an international center for fighting terrorism.
The King urged all member states of the UN, especially the major countries, to objectively work to develop regulations and institutions for the United Nations which would reflect the reality of the world at the current stage.
The Minister added that the King then briefed the Council on the talks he held with the Turkish premier and other visitors to the Kingdom last week.
The Minister stated that the Council then listened to a report on developments in the occupied Palestinian lands and events in Iraq and deplored the bombings that took place in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
The Minister said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions:
The General President of Meteorology and Protection of Environment or his deputy was authorized to sign two draft memoranda of understanding between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Republic of Egypt, one dealing with protection, development and preservation of environment, and the other with air meteorology. The final versions of the two memoranda will be forwarded for further authentication.
Upon recommendations submitted by an ad hoc committee on the development of
Jazan sea port, the Cabinet decided to stop levying arrival and departure charges for five years on vessels visiting the Jazan port.
The Cabinet approved paying the Kingdom's share in the GCC Standardization Commission's budget for the year 2005 amounting to SR2,006,667.
The Cabinet approved the appointment of Dr. Abdulrahman bin Hasan bin Abdullah Al Alsheikh as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs for Cities' Planning.
