In session chaired by Second Deputy Premier:

Saudi Cabinet welcomes int'l court decision on border demarcation in Abyei

Prince Naif conveys to cabinet Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' relief over crown prince's health

Prince Naif sends message to Yemen's interior minister on means to boost security cooperation

Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet meeting at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah.

At the outset of the session, Prince Naif conveyed the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' reassurance about the health of Crown Prince and Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

He also expressed his appreciation of the visit paid by the King to his brother the Crown Prince in his residence in Agadir to inquire after the Crown Prince's health. The cabinet also thanked Allah Almighty for the Crown Prince's speedy recovery.

Then, Prince Naif briefed the cabinet on the discussions and consultations made by the King over the past few days with leaders and envoys of friendly countries regarding the recent developments on the international arena including the message he received from French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his meeting with Commander-in-Chief of US Central Command.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Minister of Higher Education and Acting Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Ankari said that the cabinet listened to a report on the latest developments in the region and across the world.

He added that the Cabinet also welcomed the Hague's ruling regarding the demarcation of borders in Abyei, and described the ruling as a positive step towards enhancing stability and peace as well as encouraging peaceful coexistence.

Dr. Al Ankari also added that the cabinet hailed the decision made by the Arab Ministers of Health at the emergency meeting held in Cairo on the H1N1 flue preventive measures to be taken during this year's hajj season. The cabinet also welcomed the call for organizing a consultation meeting with Heads of Medical Missions to make sure these preventive measures are fully adopted as well as holding an emergency meeting whenever needed.

The cabinet also renewed the Kingdom's keenness to enhance all preventive and precautionary measures in order to combat the epidemic as well as its readiness to help protect pilgrims in the Holy Places in Makkah and Madinah through reserving sufficient amounts of the vaccine.

Dr. Al Ankari added that the cabinet, having fully reviewed a number of local issues and its agenda, took the following decisions:

First: the cabinet agreed to authorize the Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister, or his deputy, to discuss with the Jordanian side a draft agreement on transfer of people sentenced to freedom-depriving punishments between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Jordan and sign it.

Second: the cabinet approved the final statement of accounts of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities for the fiscal year 1427/1428 H.

Third: the cabinet approved the Saudi Employment Strategy which aims at full employment of the local manpower; increasing the national work output to match that in the advanced economies and gradual decrease of unemployment to eventually achieve competitive advantage for national economy based on local manpower.

Fourth: the cabinet authorized the Minister of Social Affairs, or his deputy, to sign an executive program for cooperation in the field of social affairs between the Ministry of Social Affairs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Social Solidarity in Egypt and approve it through the Saudi-Egyptian Joint Committee.

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

1- Ibrahim bin Abdullah bin Ibrahim Alshithri is appointed to the position of administrative advisor at the 15th rank at the Governorate of Riyadh Region,

2- Saad bin Solaiman bin Ali Alshihri is appointed to the position of director general of the National Center for Meteorology and Environment Protection at the 14th rank at the General Presidency of Meteorology and Environment Protection,

3- Salih bin Saud bin Mohammad Ala'mairah is appointed to the position of secretary of the region's council at the 14th rank at the Governorate of Riyadh Region,

4- Nabil bin Abdullah bin Solaiman Altwail is appointed to the position of advisor for rights affairs at the 14th rank at the Governorate of Riyadh Region,

5- Eng. Abdullah bin Ali bin Abdullah Alqarni is appointed to the position of undersecretary of the mayor for services at the 14th rank at the Eastern Region's Municipality.

Meanwhile, Prince Naif received at his office in Jeddah this evening Ali Othman Mohammed Taha, Vice President of the Sudan, and the accompanying delegation.

During the audience, they discussed a number of issues of mutual concern to the two countries.

In this regard, the Second Deputy Premier reiterated the Kingdom's welcome of the Hague-based International Court's decision on the demarcation of borders of Sudan's Abyei region, considering it a positive step towards stability in the area.

Prince Naif also lauded Sudan government's prompt response to the Saudi hajj and umrah recent instructions, barring children, elders, pregnant women and those contracting chronic diseases from performing this year's hajj or umrah to avoid a possible spread of H1N1 - A virus. The audience was attended by senior officials from the two sides.

Later, Prince Naif received the Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Kingdom Mohammed Fadhlul Karim.

Issues of mutual concern to the two countries were discussed during the meeting.

The audience was attended by Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Salem, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior.

Prince Naif also received at the Royal Court at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah princes, Royal Court officials, Cabinet officials, senior military officers and a number of citizens who came to greet him.

At the outset of the audience, verses from the Holy Quran were recited.

Then, a speech was given by Abdulmaqsood Khoja in which he stressed the security and prosperity witnessed by the Kingdom. He also lauded Prince Naif for the security achievements accomplished over the past 35 years.

The audience was attended by Prince Khalid Al Faisal, Makkah Governor; Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for Military Affairs; Prince Humoud bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Abdulaziz bin Sattam bin Abdulaziz; Prince Mohammed bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz.

Prince Naif also sent a message to Yemeni Minister of Interior Major General Mutahar Rashad Al-Masri pertaining to bilateral relations and enhancement of security cooperation between the two brotherly countries.

The message was handed over to the Yemeni minister during a meeting with Chargé D’affaires of Saudi Embassy to Yemen Saad bin Abdulrahman Al-Nasser.