The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday afternoon. At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the message sent to Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait; the messages received from King Mohammed VI of Kingdom of Morocco and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar; and the results of his meetings with Foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chairman of Delegation of Foreign Affairs Committee of European Parliament Andrej Plenkovic. The Cabinet appreciated the speech of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques during receiving the guests of thinkers and writers of National Festival for Heritage and Culture at its 30th session, his emphasis on the Kingdom's keenness that security and peace prevail in the region, his call for cooperation to address poverty, ignorance and promotion of science, thought and culture, the unification of ranks, the enlightening of the nation, and his confirmation that the Islamic religion is a religion of moderation, justice and mercy, and what is seen yesterday of terrorism from those who claim to be Muslims has no relation to Islam. The Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Adel bin Zaid Altoraifi said in a statement to Saudi Press Agency following the session that the Cabinet expressed its thanks to President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir of the Republic of Sudan for his commending of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's significant roles in Africa, benevolent initiatives in all African countries, roles in strengthening Arab-African relations, and its efforts to clear the air between Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia. The Cabinet expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's appreciation to the United Kingdom, countries and agencies that organized the Fourth Syria Donors Conference in London, stressing that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's provision of an extra $ 100 million to be added to the original $ 100 million that have been pledged by Riyadh in Kuwait conference, as well as the provision of $ 90 million within the Saudi previous commitments which are now available for disbursement in the coming period, embody the belief of the Kingdom; government and people in the need to provide assistance for the Syrian people where the entire previous aid provided by the Kingdom amounted to more than $ 780 million spent inside Syria and neighboring countries to provide the basic needs to Syrian refugees and their host countries. The Cabinet welcomed the statement issued by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of countries of the international coalition against the terrorist ISIS organization at the conclusion of their meeting in Rome, Italy and what has been confirmed by the statement of decisiveness and determination to confront and defeat this organization, curb its ambitions and protect countries from it by further cooperation and exchanging of information on the international arena. Dr. Adel bin Zaid Altoraifi said that the Cabinet was briefed on the topics on its agenda, including issues it co-shared in their study by the Shura Council. The Cabinet has decided the following: First: After review of what has been submitted of report by the Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense and after consideration of the Shura Council's resolution No. (12/5) dated 17/3/1437 AH, (28/12/20150 AD), the Cabinet approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Defense in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of defense in the Finnish Republic for cooperation in the field of defense, signed in the Finnish city of Helsinki dated 08/24/1436 AH (11/06/2015 AD). A royal decree has been prepared for this purpose. Second: The Cabinet approved that the General Authority for Funds of Minors and the like shall take the necessary for the allocation of inherited money of unknown parents who died with no legitimate heir and did not recommend about them to be for the benefit of Charitable Society for Orphans Care. Third: The Cabinet approved a number of arrangements regarding the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education. Fourth: The Cabinet approved an agreement to avoid double taxation and prevent fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Governments of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Portugal. Fifth: The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding on political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus. Sixth: The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the industrial and commercial fields between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco. Seventh: The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of roads between the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the General Directorate for Road Traffic of Spain. Eighth: The Cabinet approved a number of appointments as follows: 1- Abdullah bin Abid bin Abdullah Al-Harthy transferred from the post of Administrative Advisor (Rank 15) at the Ministry of Education to the post of Security Advisor (Rank 15) at Makkah Region Principality. 2- Dr. Saud bin Saleh bin Hassan Kateb transferred from the post of Director General of External Media (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Culture and Information to the post of Ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 3- Eng. Ahmed bin Abbas bin Ali Al-Luft appointed to the post of Quality Affairs Advisor (Rank 15) at the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization. 4- Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Abdullah Al Saud appointed to the post of Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
