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. At the outset of the session, the Cabinet congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on the success of his official visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt, citing the signing of a package of agreements and memorandums of understanding as well as executive and investment programs in a number of areas in addition to the announcement of the establishment of a causeway between the two countries, stressing keenness on closer bonds of brotherhood and solidarity between the Kingdom and the Republic of Egypt. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the outcome of his talks with the Egyptian President Abdulfattah Al-Sisi, resulting in further strengthening the historical relations between the two sisterly countries and cementing their bonds of common cooperation as well as serving the Islamic and Arab nations, and supporting of regional and global security and peace. The Cabinet congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on the success of his official visit to the Republic of Turkey, yielding fruitful results in consolidating the strategic relations and witnessing the signing of the protocol for establishing the Saudi Turkish Coordination Council, opening broad prospects for strengthening political, economic, trade, military, security, energy, media, journalism, education and culture ties for the benefit of the two countries and the two brotherly peoples. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques also briefed the Cabinet on the results of his talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey at the Presidential palace in Ankara, and his assertion that the visit comes within the framework of mutual interest in dealing with the causes of concern to the region, topped by finding a just solution to the Palestinian issue, ending the Syrian crisis and countering the interventions in the internal affairs of countries of the region by whoever tries to extend influence without taking into account the international norms and conventions. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Council also briefed the cabinet on the results of his meetings in Istanbul, with each of Sultan Hassan Al-Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, President Noor Sultan Nazarbayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of the State Kuwait, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme commander and the first Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the contents of the message sent to him by President of the Republic of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. The Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Adel bin Zaid Altoraifi said in his statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the meeting that the Cabinet reviewed the latest developments at Arab, regional and international levels, praising the statement issued by 13th session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Istanbul under the theme "unity and solidarity for justice and peace", including the condemnation issued by the leaders of states and governments of the OIC for the attacks sustained by the Saudi missions in the cities of Tehran and Mash-had in Iran as well as Iranian provocative remarks and its interventions in the internal affairs of some member countries of the OIC including Bahrain, Yemen, Syria, and Somalia and its continuing support for terrorism, and the confirmation of the statement that the cooperation relations between Islamic countries and Iran is based on the principles of good neighborliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of States and respect for their independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the condemnation issued by the leaders of states and governments of OIC against Hezbollah organization for carrying out terrorist acts in Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Yemen and support movements and terrorist groups destabilizing the security and stability of the members of the OIC. The Cabinet lauded the contents of the OIC statement confirming holding an international peace conference as early as possible to put mechanisms to provide international protection for the Palestinian people and put an end to Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories since 1967, including East Al-Quds, in implementation of the UN resolutions and the Arab peace initiative. The Minister stated that the Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's rejection' and condemnation of acts of terrorism in all its forms and whatever its goals or sources, and the Kingdom's confirmation before the Security Council on the item of threats to international peace and security that the protection of civilians from the occupation and systematic killing and refraining from spreading sectarian strife are not only moral and legal obligations, but vital demands. The Cabinet expressed condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist act which took place in the village of Karbabad in Bahrain which resulted in the death of one security man and wounding two others, stressing the stand of the Kingdom along with the Kingdom of Bahrain in the fight against terrorism in all its forms and whatever its sources. The Cabinet also expressed its deep appreciation of the State of Kuwait for hosting Yemini consultations and providing the required facilities and capabilities to convene the consultations under the auspices of the United Nations and make the event a success with a view to reach a settlement to the crisis in Yemen according to the GCC initiative, the outcomes of the national dialogue and the UN Security Council Resolution No. 2216. The Council commended the bilateral relations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the Republic of Djibouti, citing the recent development of relations in all fields, including the signing by Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Hassan Omar Mohammed Burhanuddin, Minister of Interior of the Republic of Djibouti, of the Convention on cooperation in the field of security between the two governments, reflecting the desire of both countries to establish mutual cooperation in the security field, awareness of mutual benefits that would result from cooperation in this area. The Council saw a report on the official visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan that resulted in signing an agreement between the two countries on the development of cooperation in a number of areas, including military, energy, trade and joint investments in development projects and transportation in as well as a memorandum of understanding concerning the establishment of a joint investment fund between the two countries. A report on the outcome of Deputy Crown Prince's visit to the United Arab Emirates was also seen by the Cabinet. Dr. Adel bin Zaid Altoraifi said that the Cabinet was briefed on the topics on its agenda, including some previously reviewed by the Shura Council. The Council decided the following: First : The Cabinet approved amendments on some of articles of the regulations of the Advisory Commission for Maritime Scientific Research, previously issued by the Council of Ministers decision No. (48) dated 15/02/1425 AH. Second: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Finance or his deputy to sign the Multilateral Agreement between the concerned authorities on spontaneous exchange of financial accounts information and the joint standard appendix on notifying and necessary care of financial accounts information, and forward the final version for legal procedure. Third: The Cabinet appointed Dr. Fahd bin Mohammed bin Ali Al-Turki and Osama bin Mohammed bin Amin Shaker as professional members to the Board of Directors of the General Commission for Statistics for a three-year term. Fourth: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs or his deputy to discuss drafts of general agreements with each of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Burundi, Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of South Sudan and sign them. Fifth: The Cabinet approved the organizational system of the General Commission for Small and Medium Enterprises. Sixth: The Cabinet approved the following appointments: 1- Dr. Za'ar bin Naif bin Oqab Al-Mohayya as Director General of the Anti-crime Research Center in the 15th rank at the Ministry of Interior. 2- Abdullah bin Saleh bin Sanad Al-Hossaini as Director General for Financial Control in the 14th rank at the Ministry of Finance. 3- Abdullah bin Abdulkareem bin Fahd Al-Hussein as Court Secretary General in the 14th rank at the Higher Court. 4- Khalid bin Fahd bin Abdulrahman Abu-Haimed as Scientific Researcher in the 14th rank at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. The Cabinet was briefed on a number of general issues, including two previous fiscal years annual reports pertaining to the Ministry of Justice and the Zakat (alms) and Income Department. The Cabinet issued the relevant instructions.
