RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's Council of Ministers called for conditions to return to normalcy in Yemen's Aden and southern provinces after the Southern Transitional Council (STC) declared a state of emergency, adding that such steps violate the Riyadh Agreement. "The Saudi Council of Ministers calls for the invalidation of any step taken that violates the Riyadh Agreement and stresses the need for conditions to return to normal in Aden and southern governorates," the Council of Ministers said in a statement on Tuesday after concluding a virtual session chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman. The Cabinet praised the Arab Coalition initiative to extend the ceasefire for a month to confront the COVID-19 pandemic in Yemen, to support the efforts of the United Nations to reach a comprehensive political solution that maintains the integrity of security, unity and stability of Yemen. Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi said in a statement following the meeting that the Cabinet reviewed a number of reports on the developments of the coronavirus pandemic, both at local as well as international levels, including the registered cases in the Kingdom, the medical care being rendered to them, and the follow-up of the implementation of procedures and measures taken by the authorities to preserve public health. The Cabinet discussed the efforts undertaken by the Kingdom at the international level, and the continuation of its international participation in combating COVID-19 pandemic, pointing in this context to the appeal launched by the leaders of G20, to countries, international organizations, private sector, all charitable institutions and individuals, to contribute to the international efforts to combat this pandemic and bridging the funding gap. Al-Qasabi pointed out that the Cabinet noted that the approval of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to increase the funds allocated for Ramadan Iftar (Breaking-fast) Project, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in 18 countries around the world and aims to provide Iftar meals for 1 million people. The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Interior or his deputy, to discuss with the Moroccan side a draft agreement of extradition of the wanted and the convicted between the government of Saudi Arabia and the Moroccan government. The Cabinet approved authorizing the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture to discuss with the US counterpart a draft memorandum of understanding between the Saline Water Conversion Corporation in in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Department of Energy in the United States of America in the field of desalination of sea water. The Cabinet also approved providing electricity and water services to the beneficiaries according to the regulatory procedures without requiring any certification.
