Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday afternoon . The Cabinet expressed its thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for his care, attention and genuine and sincere positions to advance the march of the joint action of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Arab States for the interest of the GCC states, peoples and Arab and Islamic nations. The Cabinet stressed, in this context, the statement issued by the Royal Court on the King's statement including his keenness on the unity of the ranks, rapprochement, rejection of the dispute in confronting the challenges facing Arab and Islamic nations, standing by the Arab Republic of Egypt to enhance its substantial role, calling on all brothers to stand as one rank rejecting any passing disagreement, and calling on the leaders of opinion and thought and the media to promote rapprochement aimed at ending any dispute, whatever the causes might be. The Cabinet was briefed on the two telephone calls received by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques from Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, and King Mohammed VI of Kingdom of Morocco. Then the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the results of his meetings with the leaders and heads of delegations of Group of Twenty Summit when he headed, on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the summit in Australia, expressing the appreciation of the Kingdom's Government and people to all leaders and heads of delegations of the Group on the positive results reached by the summit, which will have a great impact on closer cooperation between the Group in all fields as well as the achievement of development and prosperity for the international community, and expressing the Kingdom's appreciation to Australia for its successful efforts in the presidency of the group and its generous hospitality and warm welcome accorded to him and the accompanying delegation. The council of ministers took note of the outcome of the meeting between the Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Communications of the Republic of Serbia Rasim Ljajic. In his statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the Minister of Hajj and Acting Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Bandar bin Mohammad Hajjar said the Council of Ministers then listened to reports on the latest developments in a number of sisterly Arab countries and various regional and international efforts to combat terrorism. In this context, the cabinet commended the final statement issued by the international meeting, which was organized by King Abdullah International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural in Vienna under the title (United against Violence in the Name of Religion), stressing the importance of this statement in light of what the world is witnessing in terms of unprecedented risks and challenges in the forefront of which are violence, extremism and terrorism, whose slogan is based on religion which is innocent of them. The cabinet commended the set of principles and initiatives announced by the participants, including the way of dialogue as an essential and effective tool in resolving disputes and differences; support for all initiatives and institutions that rely on the dialogue approach as an essential course to build civil peace, coexistence and promotion of citizenship; and clear and full condemnation of the grave violations of human right suffered by citizens of Iraq and Syria. The Council of Ministers reiterated the kingdom's continued efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms and at all levels, pointing to the contents of the statement of the kingdom before the UN Security Council on the item, threats to international peace and security: international cooperation to combat terrorism, and its demand of the Security Council to issue a decisive stand reflecting the will of the international community to eliminate this grave scourge. Dr. Hajjar said that the council took the following decisions: First: the Council of Ministers approved a number of measures including the establishment of a supreme body for the development of the eastern region aiming at contribution to the overall development of the region and providing it with public facilities and services. The body shall have a council presided over by the Governor of the Eastern region and a dedicated budget. Among the tasks and specializations of the supreme body for the development of the eastern region are the following: 1- Drawing the general policy for the development of the Eastern Region, and following up the implementation and planning of projects in coordination with the Regional Council, the Secretariat of the region and other bodies there. 2- Preparation of feasibility studies for projects and programs implemented by it alone or in participation with others, and participation in the development of plans and budgets of government agencies and departments, public institutions and bodies and non-profit organizations so as to ensure balanced development in the region. Second: the Council of Ministers approved controls of private schools' benefit from lands of educational facilities. Among the most prominent of these controls are: 1- The Minister of Education shall form a standing committee in each education department headed by the director of the department and membership of at least three members representing: Building Affairs Management, Management of Private Education and Management of the School Planning, in order to study the applications submitted by the owners of the lands of educational facilities or those licensed to establish private schools on them. 2- The aforementioned committee shall visit the site and study the request, taking into account a number of issues including: A- Other lands of educational facilities shall be adequate for public schools that are still in rented buildings or which will open to keep up with growth. B- The request shall not be approved in the case of the availability of only one land for an educational facility in the neighborhood. Third: The cabinet authorized the President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities - or his deputy - to discuss with the Egyptian side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of tourism between the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Tourism in Arab Republic of Egypt, sign it, and then submit the final version for the completion of the necessary statutory procedures. The Cabinet approved an agreement in the field of employment of domestic workers between the Ministry of Labor in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, signed in Riyadh on 03/12/1435 AH. Among the most prominent features of the agreement are the following: 1 - The agreement aims to protect the rights of domestic workers and the rights of employers, organize the contractual relationship between them, and regulate and control the costs of recruitment in both countries. 2 - The agreement provides that the candidate of domestic workers shall not be from the convicted people, shall be trained in specialized centers or institutes in domestic works, and shall be educated with the customs and traditions of the Kingdom. Fifth: After reviewing the report of the Ministry of Health, the Cabinet approved a number of special procedures regarding ( breast milk substitutes) - infant formula, including the following: 1 - Saudi Food and Drug Authority shall price manufactured alternatives of mother's milk for infants (infant formula) of all kinds, in a manner similar to the mechanism of drug pricing. 2 - The current subsidy shall include private milk for children with metabolic, genetic , and allergic diseases, after determining the types of milk in coordination between the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and the Ministerial Committee of Supply. 3 - Reviewing prices of children's milk shall continue periodically, and be compared to prices prevailing in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Arab States. Sixth: After reviewing a report submitted by the President of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy , the Cabinet approved a draft framework agreement for cooperation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other governments. Seventh: The Cabinet approved the following appointments: 1- Suleiman bin Mohammed bin Suleiman is transferred from the job of governorate undersecretary (rank fifteenth) at the Governorate of Madinah Region to the same job title at the same rank at Governorate of Asir Region. 2- Rashid bin Ali bin Abdullah Al-Zaid is appointed to the job of Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 3- Salim bin Omar bin Salim Bashihab is appointed to the job of Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 4- Abdulrahman bin Rashid bin Abdulrahman Al-Rashed is appointed to the job of Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 5- Hassan bin Ibrahim bin Hamad Azwaid is appointed to the job of Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 6- Sami bin Saleh bin Mohammed Altrayef is transferred from the job of assistant undersecretary (rank 14) to the job of Director General of the Riyadh region branch at the same rank at the General Presidency for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. 7- Adel bin Hassan bin Hamad Al Hassan is appointed to the job of undersecretary (rank 14) at the General Presidency for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. The cabinet was briefed on the two annual reports of the Saudi Wildlife Commission and National Anti-Corruption Commission for the fiscal year (1433/1434 AH) and issued its directives toward them. The Cabinet's General Secretariat will submit the results of this session to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to issue his directives in this regard.
