The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the session held by the Cabinet at Al-Salam palace in Jeddah this evening. At the outset of the meeting, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the outcome of his talks with each of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait; King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain; and Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif as well as the contents of telephone calls he received from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey; President Donald Trump of the United States of America; and President Emmanuel Macron of the Republic of France. Following the meeting, Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad, the minister of culture and information, explained in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency that the Cabinet reviewed the developments at the region and the world at large, extending thanks to and appreciation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for his instructions to the authorities to consider the humanitarian situations of the Saudi-Qatari shared families that might be affected by the decision severing relations with the State of Qatar, as the sisterly Qatari people are considered a genuine and natural extension of their brethren in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and integral part of them. The minister said the Cabinet welcomed the joint statement issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE and Bahrain posting 59 persons and 12 organizations on the embargoed terrorist lists, citing their links with Qatar and service of suspected agendas indicating duplication of the Qatari policy which announces war against terrorism on one hand and offers financing, supporting and harboring terrorist organizations and persons on the other. The Cabinet welcomed statements made by the US President, in which he underlined the necessity for Qatar to stop funding terrorism, expressing appreciation of His Excellency for pronouncing the significance of the leading role played by the Kingdom to combat terrorism and strenuous endeavors to dry up its fountains, in addition to announcing US anticipation for cementing joint action between the two countries to fight extremism and working to bring about regional security and stability. On the local affairs, the Cabinet denounced the terrorist crime in which an explosive projectile has targeted a patrol on duty to maintain public order, at Al-Massurah district, in Qatif governorate yesterday evening, resulting in the martyrdom of an officer and injuring two policemen, praying to Allah to bestow plenty mercy on him and wishing the injured speedy recovery. Dr. Al-Awwad said that the Cabinet reviewed topics on its agenda, including issues mutually discussed by Majlis Al-Shura, and concluded the following: First: The Cabinet approved an agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Turkmenistan, in the domain of security cooperation, co-signed in Riyadh, on 24/07/1437 AH. Second: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Economy and Planning, who is also the Chairman of the General Authority for Statistics, or his deputy, to discuss with the Korean side a draft of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), in the domain of statistics between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Korea, sign it and submit the final version, to complete applicable procedures. Third: The Cabinet authorized the minister of housing or his deputy to discuss with the Portuguese side a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of housing between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Portugal, sign it and forward the final version for further authentication. Fourth: The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding on scientific and educational cooperation between the ministry of education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the ministry of higher education and scientific research of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, which was signed in the city of Riyadh on 16/2/1438 H. Fifth: The Cabinet approved authorizing the President of the Saudi Press Agency or his deputy by the minister of culture and information to discuss with the South African side a draft memorandum of understanding on cooperation and news exchange between the Saudi Press Agency and the South African news agency, sign it and forward the final version for further authentication. Sixth: Based on a report submitted to the meeting by the minister of finance and after having seen a recommendation of the Economic and Development Affairs Council No. 50-1/38/D dated 5/8/1438 H., the Cabinet approved applying two resolutions set by the Gulf Cooperation Council Supreme Council issued at its 37th session held in Bahrain on 7 and 8/3/1438 H. approving the exchange of credit information among the GCC countries as per a short term working plan as well as the comprehensive framework for the mechanism to facilitate the exchange of credit information among the GCC countries based on reciprocal treatment, starting with establishments and corporates. The Cabinet also approved the establishment and building of a system to link the payments systems in the GCC countries with each other. The Cabinet authorized the GCC monetary agencies and central banks to own and finance the project through an independent company owned and financed by the GCC monetary agencies and central banks. Seventh: The Cabinet renewed the term of office of the following members of the Board of Directors of the General Commission for Sponsoring Under-age Persons and the like for a period of three years as of 7/6/1438 AH: Dr. Yusuf bin Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Shubaili. 2 - Ahmed bin Yahya bin Jaber Al- Fayfi. 3 - Dr. Mohammed bin Saud bin Mohammed Al-Osaimi. 4 - Eng. Abdullah bin Saeed bin Mohammed Al-Mubti. 5 - Ajlan bin Abdulaziz bin Ajlan Al-Ajlan. 6 - Abdulrahman bin Fahd bin Abdullatif Al-Jaber. 7 - Eng. Abdulaziz bin Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Jumaih. 8 - Yasin bin Khaled bin Yassin Khayat. 9 - Eng. Saad bin Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Mujel. Eighth: Based on a recommendation of the Council of Economic Affairs and Development No. (1/55/38 / D) dated 2/9/1438 H., the Cabinet appointed the Minister of Housing, in addition to his job, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Real Estate Refinancing Company, an exception to paragraph (1) of the Council of Ministers Decision No. (27) dated 26/1/1421 H, for one session only. Ninth: The Cabinet approved promotions to 14 and 15 ranks and an ambassador post, as follows: 1 Khalid bin Abdulrahman Al-Jabir promoted to the post of ambassador, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2 Jamal in Bakr bin Abdullah Balkhiour Ali promoted to the post of ambassador, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 3 Rashid bin Mansur bin Salem Al Qassim promoted to the post of Administrative Counselor, 14 rank, at the Control and Investigation Board. 4 Ibrahim bin Saleem bin Mohammed Al-Lahim promoted to the post of Sharia affairs' Counselor, 14 rank, at the Ministry of Justice. 5 Eng. Hammad bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Shiwaish promoted to the post of Civil Engineering Counselor, 14 rank, at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs. 6 Missfir bin Dhafir bin Missfir Al-Khatha'ami promoted the post of General Director for Administrative and Financial Affairs, 14 rank, at the Control and Investigation Board. The Cabinet also reviewed various issues on its agenda, including outcomes and recommendations of the 10th meeting of the public attorney, prosecutors, heads of investigation and prosecution, affiliates of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states, and took appropriate decisions in their regard.
