The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session held at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh today. At the outset of the session, the Cabinet reviewed the recent talks and discussions that took place between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a number of countries with the aim of advancing relations to new heights in order to serve common interests and enhance bilateral and multilateral coordination towards global issues and developments in the region and the world. The Cabinet then was briefed on an assessment of the sabotage attacks perpetrated by the Iran-backed terrorist Houthi militia to target civilian areas and vital facilities in Saudi Arabia with ballistic missiles, drones and projectiles, in addition to the threat these attacks, which are criminalized by international laws and resolutions, pose to regional and international security, as they also reflect the militia's intransigence and rejection of the political solution. The Cabinet reiterated the call to the countries and organizations around the world to stand against these attacks and to confront those who carry them out or support them. Within the same context, the Cabinet commended the efforts of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen in protecting global energy resources from hostile attacks and ensuring supply chains, in addition to Coalition's support for the success of the Yemeni consultations held in Riyadh under the auspices of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi said that the Cabinet reviewed the developments of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and the GCC's statement during the UN General Assembly's emergency special session on Ukraine, where the council affirmed support for the current path of dialogue between the parties to the conflict to reach a peaceful settlement that would avoid the region and the world from negative political, economic and humanitarian repercussions. The Cabinet addressed the outcomes of the 4th Session of Conference of States Parties to Arab Convention against Corruption, the top of which were decisions on consolidating joint Arab action in this field and joining the Riyadh Initiative GlobE Network (Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities) that aims at enhancing cooperation and facilitating the exchange of information. The Cabinet considered the positive estimates from the credit rating agencies on Saudi Arabia's economy as reflection of the improved GDP growth and public finances in the medium term, linked to the Kingdom's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic impact, developments in the oil sector, and ongoing government reform programs. The Cabinet followed the preparations and arrangements of the authorities concerned with serving the visitors of the Two Holy Mosques in order to implement their security and organizational plans during the Holy month of Ramadan according to an integrated system of services and facilities, provided through modern technologies, advanced methods and highest quality standards. The Cabinet was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda and issued the following decisions: First: Authorizing the Minister of Energy – or a deputy – to hold talks with the Bahraini side on a draft cooperation agreement between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the energy field, sign it and refer the final signed copy to proceed with formal procedures. Second: Authorizing the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Chairman of Saline Water Conversion Corporation – or a deputy – to hold talks with G?rniczo-Hutnicza University of Science and Technology in Poland regarding a draft memorandum of understanding between Saline Water Conversion Corporation and G?rniczo-Hutnicza University of Science and Technology in the Republic of Poland in the field of water desalination, sign it, and refer the final signed copy to proceed with formal procedures. Third: Authorizing the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Chairman of the Saudi Exports Development Authority – or a deputy – to hold talks with the Egyptian side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Exports Development Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Export Development Authority affiliated with the Egyptian Ministry of Industry and Trade in the field of developing non-oil exports, sign it and refer the final signed copy to proceed with formal procedures. Fourth: Approving a memorandum of understanding between the National Cyber Security Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and National Cyber Security Center in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Fifth: Authorizing the Supervisor General of the National Center for Archives and Records – or a deputy – to hold talks with the Iraqi side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding between the National Center for Archives and Records in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iraq's National Library and Archive in the field of documents and archiving, sign it and refer the final signed copy to proceed with formal procedures. Sixth: Approving the disbursement of allowance for practicing forensic medicine for workers in the forensic medicine field. Seventh: Accrediting the final account of the Human Resources Development Fund for a previous fiscal year. Eighth: Approving promotions to the fourteenth rank and appointments on the rank of (minister plenipotentiary). The Cabinet also reviewed several issues on its agenda and took necessary procedures regarding them.
