NEOM — The Cabinet thanked senior scholars from Pakistan and Afghanistan for signing the "Declaration of Peace in Afghanistan" during a summit held recently in Makkah with Saudi Arabia's support. The declaration seeks to pave the way to resolve the long-standing Afghan crisis through negotiations among warring parties, and rejection of all acts of violence and extremism in all forms and manifestations. At the outset of the virtual meeting, which was chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the Cabinet cited the honor bestowed by Allah the Almighty on this blessed country including the opportunity to serve the Two Holy Mosques, as well as pilgrims, Umrah performers, visitors and worshipers. The Cabinet also paid tribute to the Saudi authorities assigned to organize the annual pilgrimage amid the highest precautionary and preventive measures to protect pilgrims as well to facilitate them perform their rituals with comfort and ease. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the content of the written message he received from Oman's Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik, and the phone call with Kyrgyz President Sadir Jabarov during which bilateral relations were discussed and ways of supporting and strengthening them at all levels reviewed. On behalf of the acting minister of media, the Minister of State Dr. Essam Bin Saad stated in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the meeting that the Cabinet reviewed the overall discussions and consultations held by Saudi Arabia during the past days with a number of countries to consolidate its bilateral relations, support international and regional efforts to lay the foundations of security and stability and to resolve conflicts, reflecting Saudi Arabia's important role in the Arab and Islamic worlds. The Cabinet took a number of important decision, some of which are the following: issued the following decisions: — The Cabinet gave its nod to the Royal Commission for Al-Ula Governorate to join the International Union for Conservation of Nature and its resources as an independent member. — The Cabinet approved the establishment of an academy to be named Mahd Sports Academy, concerned with developing sports talents, and providing juniors and youngsters with technical knowledge and methodologies with the aim to achieve national, regional and continental sporting achievements. —The Cabinet approved merging the Public Pension Agency into the General Organization for Social Insurance as well as a number of arrangements mentioned in the decision. — The Cabinet approved the final accounts of each of King Khalid University and Al-Baha University.
