The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Prime Minister, on Tuesday chaired the Cabinet's virtual session. At the outset of the meeting, the Cabinet cited the honor bestowed by Allah the Almighty for this blessed country including the service of the Two Holy Mosques, as well as the permanent and full care it pays to pilgrims, Umrah performers, visitors and worshippers. The Cabinet also paid tribute to the Saudi authorities assigned to organize the annual pilgrimage gathering upon most highest precautionary and preventive measures to protect pilgrims, so they can perform their rituals with comfort and ease. The Cabinet, moreover, cited part of the regulatory controls, health standards and security requirements issued to control this year's Hajj (1442 H.) amid the continuing developments of the coronavirus pandemic and the emergence of its new mutations. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the content of the written message he received from Sultan Haitham bin Tarik bin Temor of the Sultanate of Oman, and the phone call with President Sadir Jabarov of the Kyrgyz Republic 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 and Member of the Cabinet Dr. Essam bin Saad bin Saeed, stated, in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the meeting, that the Cabinet reviewed the overall discussions and consultations held by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the past days with a number of friendly countries, to consolidate its bilateral relations, support international and regional efforts to lay the foundations of security and stability and actively strive to resolve conflicts and address crises, reflecting Saudi Arabia's shouldering its pioneering, developmental and leading role in the Arab and Islamic worlds. In this regard, the Cabinet paid tribute to senior scholars from the Republics of Pakistan and Afghanistan for signing in Makkah under the auspices of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Declaration of Peace in Afghanistan, aiming at paving 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. The Cabinet was briefed on issues on its agenda, including some co-studied by the Shura Council as well as the outcomes reached by each of the Council of Economic Affairs and Development, the Council of Political and Security Affairs, the Cabinet's General Committee and the Cabinet's Experts Commission in their regard. The Cabinet issued the following decisions: First: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs, or his deputy, to discuss with the Chilean side a draft general agreement for cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Chile, sign it and forward the final version for further regular authentication. Second: The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of radio and television between the Broadcasting and TV Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Iraqi Media Network of the Republic of Iraq. Third: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Investment, or his deputy, to discuss with the British side a draft memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of direct investment promotion between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, sign it and forward the final version for further authentication. Fourth: The Cabinet approved that the Royal Commission for Al-Ula Governorate joins the International Union for Conservation of Nature and its resources as an independent member. Fifth: 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. Sixth: The Cabinet instructed that the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture shall be obliged to apply the provisions of the Regulations on the Disposal of Municipal Real Estate, according to the Royal Decree No. (40152) dated 06/29/1441 H. on using and investing the lands it owns as well as those considered belonging to it according to decisions issued before the date of the above-mentioned decision. Seventh: 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. Eighth: The Cabinet approved the final accounts of each of King Khalid University and Al-Baha University Ninth: The Cabinet approved promotions at the 14th and 15th ranks. The Cabinet was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda and took relevant recommendations.
