RIYADH: The Cabinet Monday called for a cessation to the violence and bloodshed to protect the Libyan people and the unity of its land. It also reiterated the need for humanitarian aid to be sent to the injured and all persons affected by the events, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, as saying. The weekly meeting reiterated the contents of the recent statement from the Board of Senior Ulema on turbulent world events and called upon “everyone to work for cohesion and strengthening of ties”. The Cabinet expressed its gratitude to Almighty Allah for His blessings on the Kingdom, citing “unity on the Book of Allah and the Prophet's Traditions under the wise leadership with its religious allegiance”. Chairing the session, King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, spoke on the joint communiqué issued by the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council after its third meeting, which was chaired in Riyadh by Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, and Prince Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Crown Prince of Qatar. King Abdullah described the communiqué as “reflecting the will to further develop bilateral relations and consolidate the excellent bonds of brotherhood between the two brotherly people”. The ministers approved recommendations from Prince Saud Al- Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on GCC citizens' purchase of real estate in fellow member states, and from the minister of finance to increase agricultural subsidies from 25 percent to 70 percent to promote modern agricultural irrigation. The Cabinet also approved a series of Grade 14 and 15 appointments to ambassadorial and administrative positions. Speaking in a statement given after the meeting to the SPA, Khoja said ministers praised the recent visit by Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Bahrain. Ministers said the “blood relations and wish of both leaderships to strengthen already strong relations between the two countries in all fields, serves both the brotherly countries and their people”. The Cabinet made special mention of the efforts of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, to “clear the air between the United Arab Emirates and Sultanate of Oman”, and praised Sultan Qaboos of Oman and Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahayan, President of the UAE, for the success of those efforts. Khoja said the Cabinet also reviewed developments in the Arab world and the international arena and expressed its concern over events in some Arab and Islamic countries. Ministers stressed the importance of “handling events wisely and patiently to ensure security and stability in those countries”. According to Khoja, the Cabinet also lauded the final communiqué of the 135th session of the Arab League, which it said, “reflects the concerns and aspirations of the Arab nation”. The Cabinet strongly denounced Israeli authorities for their “continued atrocities and encroachment on Palestinian lands to erase the historical characteristics of Jerusalem”, describing them as a “flagrant violation of the rights of the Palestinian people”. Monday's meeting also reviewed a range of recent cultural, scientific and economic activities in the Kingdom, including the announcement of the winners of the King Abdullah Prize for Translation, now in its fourth year.
