Saudi cabinet urges Lebanese parties to give priority to Lebanon's interests

Prince Khalid bin Sultan tours U.S. Niles Base

Shoura Council holds session attended by labor minister

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz received a message from Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva.

The message was delivered to the king by Brazilian Minister of Foreign Relations Celso Amorim during an audience.

The monarch also received David Lidington, Shadow Foreign Office Minister of British Conservative Party and the accompanying delegation. The audience was attended by Prince Miteb bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Miqren bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence; a number of princes; Chairman of Shoura Council and senior officials.

They all had lunch with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz met with Brazilian Minister of Foreign Relations Celso Amorim.

At the outset of the audience, the minister conveyed to the Monarch the greetings of Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva. In turn, the King sent his greetings to the President.

They also reviewed topics of common concern. The audience was attended by Prince Miteb bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Miqren bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Dr. Nizar Obaid Madani, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Saudi Ambassador to the United States of America and Brazil's Ambassador to the Kingdom Isnard Penha Brasil Junior.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz met with David Lidington, Shadow Foreign Office Minister of British Conservative Party.

During the audience, they exchanged cordial talks on a number of topics of mutual interest.

The audience was attended by Prince Miteb bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Miqren bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland; Chairman of Shoura Council Dr. Salih bin Abdullah bin Homaid and Saudi Ambassador to the United States of America Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has sent a cable of congratulations to Iran's President Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad on the anniversary of his country's National Day.

In his own name and on behalf of the people and government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the King wished the President permanent good health and happiness and his people steady progress and prosperity Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, has sent a cable of congratulations to Iran's President Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad on the anniversary of his country's National Day.

In his cable, the Crown Prince wished the President permanent good health and happiness and his people steady progress and prosperity.

The crown prince received Palestine's Ambassador to the Kingdom Jamal Abdullatif Al-Shobaki.

The ambassador conveyed the greetings of President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestinian National Authority to the Crown Prince who in turn sent his greetings to the President.

During the audience, they exchanged cordial talks and discussed topics of mutual interest.

The audience was attended by Prince Dr. Mishaal bin Abdullah bin Mosaed, Advisor to the Crown Prince, and other officials.

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received also at the Royal Court at Al-Yamamah Palace Shadow Foreign Office Minister of British Conservative Party David Lidington and a number of British Parliament members.

During the audience, they exchanged cordial talks on issues of mutual interest.

The audience was attended by Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland; Prince Dr. Mishaal bin Abdullah bin Musaed, Adviser to the Crown Prince; and a number of senior officials.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Yamamah palace.

At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the talks, consultations and meetings held by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz over the previous days with a number of the world leaders and their envoys on the developments of events in the region and the world.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the Minister of Transport who is also the Acting Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Jubarah bin Eid Al-Suraysri said the Cabinet followed-up with great concern the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories in light of Israeli violations against innocent civilians in occupied Palestine and Israeli continued aggression on various Palestinian cities and towns in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Cabinet reiterated its condemnation of the continuation of such crimes as well as Israel's disregard for the resolutions of the international legitimacy and international law.

Al-Suraysri pointed out that the Cabinet stressed the need for the international community to take firm stance towards what is happening in Palestine and work hard to protect the Palestinian people from the state terrorism practiced by Israel. The Cabinet expressed hope that the visit paid by the Quartet Envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair will lead to a positive role to ending the unjust siege on Gaza and to seriously moving towards peace.

The Acting Minister of Culture and Information said that the Cabinet affirmed the keenness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on supporting all that would move the peace process in the region and to work on achieving security and stability in the region and the whole world. Regarding Lebanon, the Cabinet expressed hope that all Lebanese parties will work to give priority to the Lebanese interests and return to serious dialogue in light of Arab efforts exerted through the Arab League and its Secretary General to implement the provisions of the Arab initiative to resolve the political crisis in Lebanon.

Al-Suraysri also said that the Cabinet issued the following decisions: The Cabinet authorized the President of the General Authority for Civil Aviation - or his deputy - to sign a draft agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Ghana in the field of air transport services.

The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Interior - or his deputy - to discuss with the Pakistani side a draft agreement on the transfer of persons sentenced to a penalty involving deprivation of liberty between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The Cabinet approved a number of procedures including the following: 1- The Ministry of Health shall develop a project that aims at building capabilities in the fields of environmental health and management of hazardous medical waste in addition to benefiting from the national expertise and scientific research centers upon implementation.

2- The General Presidency of Meteorology and Environmental Protection shall monitor companies operating in environmental fields in general and in treating hazardous wastes in particular in order to verify their adherence to the provisions set forth in the General Environment Law issued by Royal Decree No. (M/34) dated 28/07/1422 AH and its implementing regulations.

3- The setting up of a joint-stock company for the treatment of hazardous waste shall be forwarded to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the General Authority for Investment. An integrated study on the economic feasibility of the establishment of this company shall be submitted. The possibility of merging existing companies with the proposed company and the participation of foreign capital in this field shall be reviewed.

Also, the Cabinet reviewed the Shoura Council Decision No. (13/15) dated 04/05/1428 AH. and approved the following:

1- Fine imposed on ordinary person and individual establishment will not be collected from his/her legacy if he/she died before paying it.

2- The provision of paragraph (1) of this decision shall not apply to the fine imposed on administrative contracts as it is a contractual penalty condition and has a compensatory nature.

3- This decision shall replace the Cabinet's Decision No. (758) dated 12/06/1393 AH.

The Cabinet approved a number of appointments as follows: 1- Saud bin Mohammed bin Saad Al-Mifleh as Legal Adviser at the Court of Grievances.

2- Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim Saad Al-Hadlaq as Assistant Undersecretary for Social Development at the Ministry of Social Affairs.

3- Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Abdulrahman Al-Msaad as Director General of Administrative and Financial Affairs at the General Presidency of the Commission of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

In U.S., Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Assistant Defense and Aviation Minister for Military Affairs, met with Chief of Staff of the US Air Forces General Michael Mosley.

They reviewed aspects of military cooperation between the Kingdom and the U.S. as well as issues pertaining to the participation of the Royal Saudi Air Forces in the exercises of Red Flag 3.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan extended to Mosley a memorial shield at the end of the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Lt. General Prince Abdulrahman bin Fahd al-Faisal, the Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Forces.

At Niles Base, Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Assistant Defense and Aviation Minister for Military Affairs met with the Royal Saudi Air Forces Group which is participating in the exercises of Red Flag-3.

At the base, He also met with the US air forces and air forces of a number of friendly countries.

In a speech delivered at the outset of the meeting, he expressed his happiness to meet a new batch of Royal Saudi Air Forces for the second time within seven months, explaining that he meets later today with men who are trying to prove their operational merits and to assure their readiness to combat through the implementation of air operations in advanced mock warfare exercises with other air forces.

He said "This meeting is being carried out while the world is passing through stages of turmoil and confusion represented in conflicts of interest as there is hardly any spot in the world that is without war or conflict".

He added "Everyone is looking for stability and everyone is dreaming of living in safety, but everyone seems to have lost the way. As such, there is no lasting safety and no stability.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan assured that the Saudi wise Leadership made many efforts to direct the Nation towards safety and security.

Meanwhile, Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Assistant Defense and Aviation Minister for Military Affairs; Prince Lt. General Abdulrahman bin Fahd Al-Faisal, the Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Forces and a number of officials toured here last night US Niles Base where the Royal Saudi Air Forces are participating in the Red Flag-3 exercises along with the US air forces and air forces of a number of friendly countries.

At Niles Base, he was received by the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Affairs, General Michael Hardin, the Deputy Commander of the U.S. air forces, General John Eters and a number of officials.

Prince Khalid watched an advanced mock battle between American and Saudi forces.

Also, he toured the base facilities and was briefed on the operations and missions which is being carried out at these facilities.

Presided over by its Chairman Sheikh Dr. Salih bin Abdullah bin Homaid, the Shoura Council held its 70th session.

The session was attended by Minister of Labor Dr. Ghazi bin Abdulrahman Al-Gosaibi.

The Council's Assistant Secretary General Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Yahya said that the Council discussed topics pertaining to foreign labor and policy of Saudization.

In his speech, Dr. bin Homaid noted that the labor sector in the Kingdom has leapt great strides leading to economic and social effects.

On his part, the Minister of Labor expressed his pleasure to attend the Council's session aiming at contributing to the advancement of the work of government in various sectors.

Al-Gosaibi pointed out that the figures of Statistics Department revealed that there are 280,000 unemployed male citizens; 90 per cent of them do not have appropriate educational qualifications for the simplest jobs and they need training courses or completion of their education.

In a press statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the Assistant Secretary General Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Yahya said that the Council approved visa fees levied on workers recruited to serve the Two Holy Mosques in Hajj and Umrah seasons in accordance with the Royal Decree No. M/88 dated 03/11/1428 AH.

The Council also approved a draft general agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Kenya submitted by the Foreign Affairs Committee.

The Council also approved a draft system of Agricultural Development Fund submitted by the Financial Affairs Committee.

Following that, the Council discussed the organization of the comprehensive periodical inspection of vehicles submitted by the Security Affairs Committee.