Saudi cabinet underscores Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' visits to regions, patronization of several projects

Prince Khalid Alfaisal launches Jeddah Summer Tourist Festival

Saudi health ministry says all H1N1 cases healed

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired a Cabinet meeting at the Royal Court at Al Hawiyyah Palace in Taif.

At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the cabinet on the discussions, consultations, meetings and contacts he made over the past few days with leaders and envoys of friendly countries including his meeting with Bahraini King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifah; Malaysian Premier Mohammed Najeeb Abdulrazzak as well as US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director General Jack Dhuyoof.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Minister of Culture and Information Abdulaziz bin Moheiaddin Khoja said that the cabinet stressed the importance of the King's visit to Taif, saying that it represents his personal interest as well as keenness to personally attend to the needs of his citizens.

The cabinet also expressed happiness at the King's last week launching of some crucial projects in Madinah and Yanbu including the Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu projects at a total cost of some 45 billion riyals. The cabinet also lauded his launching of a number of other projects such as water desalination and electricity generation projects as well as his visit to Petrorabigh Refinery.

The Minister of Culture and Information said the cabinet listened to a report on the non-aligned movement summit held in Egypt last week. The final document of the 15th summit stressed commitment to boosting coordination and cooperation among the movement's countries. The declaration on Palestine stressed the need for continuing the role of the movement toward the Palestinian cause.

The cabinet condemned the evil terrorist bombings of two hotels in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, stressing the importance of mobilizing international efforts to fight terrorism and terrorists.

Khoja also added that the cabinet, having fully reviewed a number of local issues and its agenda, took the following decisions:

First: the cabinet authorized the Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister, or his deputy, to discuss with the Russian side a draft agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Russia on cooperation in the field of fighting illegal trading and trafficking in narcotics, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals, and sing it.

Second: the cabinet approved enforcement of the "Abu Dhabi Unified Regulation (Law) on Fighting Human Trafficking in the Gulf Cooperation Council" according to the text attached to the resolution "as a guidance regulation (law) for four years." The resolution has been adopted by the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council and was issued at its 27th session held in Riyadh on 18/19-11-1427 H.

Third: the cabinet approved a number of appointments at the 15th and 14th ranks as follows:

1- Ahmad bin Mohammad bin Mohammad Ala'bdilqadir is appointed to the position of assistant deputy president of the bureau for monitoring performance at the 15th rank at the General Auditing Bureau,

2- Eng. Khalid bin Mohammad bin Abduaziz Ala'isa is appointed to the position of consultant civil engineer at the 14th rank at the Ministry of Interior,

3- Mohamamd bin Yaa'qoob bin Yosif Alfuraih is appointed to the position of deputy director general of the National Center for Computer at the 14th rank at the Central Department Of Statistics & Information.

Meanwhile, King Abdullah received in Taif on Monday President of the High Commission for Scholars and Scientific Research and Fatwa Affairs Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Asheikh and a number of scholars who came to greet him.

He also received the late Sheikh Abdullah bin Jibreen's brothers and sons whom the King offered his sincere condolences on the death of the Sheikh.

They also extended their thanks to the King for offering condolences.

The audience was attended by Governor of Makkah Region Prince Khalid Al Faisal; Advisor to the King Prince Bandar bin Salman bin Mohammed and a number of officials.

King Abdullah has sent a cable of congratulations to Belgian King Albert II 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, King Abdullah wished the King permanent good health and happiness and his people steady progress and prosperity.

Crown Prince and Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz has sent a cable of congratulations to Belgian King Albert II on the anniversary of his country's National Day.

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

On the other hand, Prince Khalid Alfaisal, the Governor of Makkah Region, launched the activities of Jeddah summer tourist festival last night in the province of Jeddah. In a press statement following the launching ceremony, Prince Khalid hailed Jeddah as an excellent tourist city.

The ceremony was attended by a number of princes and senior officials.

In Riyadh, Abdullah Al Rabeeah, the Minister of Health and President of the Arab Health Ministers Council will present at the extraordinary meeting of health ministers of the eastern Mediterranean region, the Saudi government's efforts in enhancing precautionary and preventive measures for combating Swine Flu ( A1N1).

The minister will be given an extended time to highlight Saudi Arabia's preparations and recommendations about prevention of pilgrims from all diseases and all necessary precautions against Swine Flu in the regions of Makkah and Madinah during Hajj and Umrah seasons this year.

Speaking on the occasion, Khalid Mirghalani, Director of information said that the Health Minister will brief the gathering on the findings of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia following the specialized workshop on Swine Flu recently held in Jeddah Governorate.

The Ministry of Health has used the specialized international expertise from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S Centers for Diseases and prevention (CDC) and has developed monitoring and response system with 15 important recommendations for preventive and remedial efforts to combat this disease.

He pointed out that the Ministry has already begun the implementation of these recommendations. The instructions have been issued to enlist vaccination against seasonal influenza as well as vaccination against swine flu as soon as these vaccines are available with the international standards and specifications.