Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday afternoon. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohiuddin Khoja said the cabinet discussed several reports on local affairs and developments of regional and international situations. The cabinet expressed appreciation and pride for the programs celebrating Madinah as the capital of Islamic culture for the year 1434 AH / 2013 G. The programs were patronized by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and inaugurated by Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. They included comprehensive activities which are worthy of the city of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his migration place - which beamed the light of Islam, which has covered the globe with its tolerance. The activities also reflect the spirit of this great city and hint at its great contribution to Islamic sciences. The cabinet welcomed the results of the eighth Islamic Conference of the Ministers of Culture of the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, with which the celebration activities were concluded including the decisions serving the Islamic cultural action particularly the adoption of the draft operational plan of the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for dialogue among the followers of religions and cultures (Achievements and Future Prospects). The Minister of Culture and Information said the cabinet was briefed on the contents of the Second Geneva Conference on the Syrian crisis at its opening session which was held in the city of Montreux, Switzerland, on Wednesday, reiterating the Kingdom's call for applying what is stated in the First Geneva Conference on the formation of a Syrian transitional government which has no place for the Syrian regime and its symbols, and enabling the Syrians to carry out their responsibilities away from external interferences to achieve self-determination and preserve the sovereignty, independence and unity of Syria. --More 15:46 LOCAL TIME 12:46 GMT تغريد
