The Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on Tuesday afternoon at Al-Salam Palace here, commended the launch of the Makkah Route Initiative in several countries with the aim of receiving pilgrims and completing their procedures from their countries easily. They reiterated that this initiative is being implemented as part of the state's keenness to develop the quality of services presented to the pilgrims to the highest level and to realize the targets and programs of Saudi Vision 2030. At the outset of the session, the Cabinet was briefed on the recent talks and discussions that took place between Saudi officials and their counterparts in a number of countries to develop relations and push them towards further cooperation and coordination to serve common interests and contribute to establishing security and stability in the region and the world. The Cabinet then addressed a number of reports on the developments in various arenas, reiterating Saudi Arabia's keenness to support the United Nations' efforts to reach a sustainable political solution to the Yemeni crisis and end the suffering of the Yemeni people to support the humanitarian, economic and development aspects so as to contribute to their security and stability. The Cabinet reviewed the outcomes of the meeting of the 152nd session of the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regarding the developments of the joint Gulf action as well as enhancing it in all fields, in addition to the developments of regional and international political issues. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid Bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi said that the Cabinet touched upon the outcomes of the ministerial strategic dialogue meeting between the GCC and the Russian Federation and the joint ministerial meeting between the GCC and Ukraine, where these two meetings reflected the unified Gulf position regarding the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and its repercussions, especially with regard to food security of the affected countries and the world. The Cabinet praised the outcomes of the Fourth Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Mediation, which was held in Jeddah. The Cabinet within this context referred to the great efforts exerted by Saudi Arabia, since its establishment, in mediating between countries to resolve disputes by peaceful means, in addition to supporting dialogue to achieve stability, security and prosperity, which are the core of progress and development. The Cabinet welcomed the announcement of Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC) members, including Saudi Arabia, to designate (16) names (13 individuals and 3 entities) affiliated to variety of terrorist organizations. The Cabinet valued the fruitful cooperation between the countries of the GCC and the USA in this field and to strengthen regional capabilities in order to target activities that pose a threat to security. The Cabinet stated that the Saudi ports' ranking first in the 2021 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) report, published by The World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, reflects the national ambitious efforts towards consolidating Saudi Arabia's position as a global logistics hub connecting the three continents. This also comes in light of the great interest that the government attaches to developing the transport and logistics industry in Saudi Arabia and maximizing its economic and development role. The Cabinet considered electing Saudi Arabia as vice chair of Governing Board of the Global Research Council an affirmation of its prominent status and its scientific institutions in the field of research and development in the Middle East and North Africa and at the global level, in addition to its influential role in enhancing progress based on science, knowledge and innovation. The Cabinet authorized the minister of energy to hold talks with the Greek side regarding a draft cooperation agreement between the governments of Saudi Arabia and the Hellenic Republic in the energy field. It authorized the minister of environment, water and agriculture to hold talks with the Romanian side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in Saudi Arabia and the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the agricultural field. It approved Saudi Arabia's accession to the Artemis Accords: cooperation principles in the fields of civil exploration and using the moon, mars, comets and asteroids for peaceful purposes. The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding in the field of land road between the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services in Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Transport, Telecommunications and Information Technology in Oman. It authorized the minister of transport and logistic services, chairman of the Transport General Authority to hold talks with the Djiboutian side regarding a draft cooperation agreement between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Djibouti in the maritime transport field. It approved that male employees with military ranks regarding paternity leave; female employees with military ranks regarding leaves for giving childbirth, death of husbands and maternity; male and female employees with military ranks regarding leaves of accompaniment for medical purposes and death; are treated the same way as employees subject to the civil service bylaws. It approved amendments to the bylaws of distributing dry gas and liquefied petroleum gas for residential and commercial purposes, issued under the Royal Decree No. (M/126) on 1/12/1438 Hijri according to the relevant decision in this regard. — SPA
