The Shoura Council held the first ordinary meeting of the first year of the fifth session, under the chairmanship of Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh. He started the business of the Council's first meeting with an address in which he extended sincere thanks to and appreciation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, for the royal confidence bestowed on all of them. He stated that work in the Shoura is one of the fundamentals of Islamic Sharia that must be observed and should lead to real and genuine concept of consultation and dialogue and avoid exclusion of any idea that establishes awareness of the public interest and service the homeland and citizens. Freedom of presentation and discussion of different views under this dome is guaranteed for all, because the leadership is keen to make this a place where minds and diverse experiences are mixed with each other in order to rationalize the decision, which serves the public interest and assists the State in its work, he said citing Article V of the Rules of Procedure for members of the Shoura and the Statute of the Shoura Council. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the meeting, the Secretary General of the Shoura Council Dr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Ghamdi said that the council discussed naming its specialized subcommittees, their chairmen, vice-chairmen and members.
