RIYADH — The Council of Ministers on Tuesday emphasized that the Kingdom would continue to exert all efforts to support Yemen in achieving its security and stability. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman chaired the weekly session of the Cabinet at Al-Yamama Palace in Riyadh. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Media Turki Al-Shabanah said the Cabinet renewed the Kingdom's welcoming of the signing of the Riyadh Agreement between the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council (STC), under the directives of King Salman and under the patronage of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense. The Council appreciated the keenness of the Yemeni parties on upholding the interests of Yemen and realizing the aspirations of its people. The Cabinet highlighted the emphasis given by the Crown Prince on the Kingdom's keenness to support the Yemeni people ever since the beginning of the crisis, in response to the request made by its legitimate leadership, seeking a political solution to the crisis according to the three references. It also emphasized the Kingdom's keenness to stop foreign interference in Yemen that seeks to impose a new reality by force of arms, overthrowing of its legitimate government and threatening the security of the region and its waterways that are vital to the world. Al-Shabanah said the Cabinet appreciated positive outcome of the signing of the Riyadh Agreement at the international and Arab levels, and that included appreciating efforts made to reach out to the Yemeni parties as a pivotal step in the way of ending the Yemeni crisis and strengthening its unity and prosperity. The Cabinet then reviewed the signing of the agreement between the Saudi government and the World Economic Forum (WEF) to establish WEF's branch of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Center, which is the fifth in the world. The center will provide a space to develop mechanisms, plans and applications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the Kingdom, and contribute to adopt technology and best practices regionally and internationally. Al-Shabanah said the Cabinet also noted the Kingdom's support and appreciation of the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its denunciation of Iran's continued deception and delays in providing the required information on its nuclear program to the IAEA and the Kingdom's demand for Iran's full cooperation and respect for the immunities and privileges of IAEA inspectors. The Council hailed the "Diriyah Gate" project, which will be inaugurated as a global tourist destination focusing on culture and heritage, citing the historic importance of Diriyah. The Cabinet praised the Saudi team for winning seventh place in the advanced category in the World Robot Olympics held in Hungary. A total of 423 teams from 74 countries competed. The Council approved the accession of Saudi Arabia to the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) as a dialogue partner, assigning the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to complete the necessary legal procedures. The Cabinet authorized Minister of Energy or his deputy to discuss and sign with South Africa a draft memorandum of understanding between the governments of the two countries to study investment opportunities of establishing an integrated refinery and petrochemical complex in South Africa. The Council also approved a memorandum of understanding between the General Directorate of Saudi Financial Investigation in the Presidency of State Security and the Argentine Financial Information Unit concerning cooperation in the exchange of investigations related to combating money laundering and terrorism funding.
