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January 27, 2006 |
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PRINCE SULTAN EXPRESSES HIS CONFIDENCE THAT THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES' TOUR WILL ENHANCE RELATIONS WITH FRIENDLY COUNTRIES AND ACHIEVE MORE COORDINATION IN THE DISCUSSION OF THE REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES OF COMMON INTERESTS. THE CABINET DENOUNCES PUBLICATIONS IN SOME EUROPEAN PAPERS THAT OFFEND PROPHET MOHAMMED IBN ABDULLAH (PEACE BE UPON HIM) AND CONFIRMS THAT THESE PUBLICATIONS HAVE BEEN IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE RESPECT AND SANCTITY OF RELIGIONS AND PROPHETS. THE CABINET APPROVES A NEW RATING FOR THE SOCIAL INSURANCE FOR FAMILIES IN THE KINGDOM, INCREASING THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT CEILING OF FAMILY SOCIAL INSURANCE APPROPRIATIONS. The Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz chaired the cabinet's weekly session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh last Monday. At the outset of the session, Prince Sultan wished all success to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz in his official visits which started last Sunday. The tour includes China, India, Malaysia and Pakistan. Prince Sultan expressed his confidence that these visits will enhance bilateral relations between the Kingdom and these countries and achieve more coordination in the discussion of the regional and international issues of common interests. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, the Minister of Social Affairs and Acting Minister of Culture and Information Abdul Mohsin Al-A'kkas said that the Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques praised Almighty Allah for enabling pilgrims perform Hajj rituals easily and comfortably and for making possible the Kingdom's success in carrying out its mission towards them. The Minister added that Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz expressed his appreciation of the efforts exerted by the various governmental bodies and sectors and national establishments in the service of pilgrims. The umbrella of capabilities, which the State provided made possible their efforts and the success of this Hajj season. Prince Sultan expressed the Kingdom's condolences for the families of the victims of the stampede incident that took place at the entrance of Jamarat Bridge and the collapse of a building in Al-Ghazah Suburb in Makkah, praying to Almighty Allah to bless their souls. On another topic, the Cabinet denounced the publications that appeared in some European papers which offended Prophet Mohammed Ibn Abdullah (Peace Be Upon Him). These publications have been in contravention of the respect and sanctity of religions and prophets. The Cabinet expressed its surprise and resentment of the inappropriate reactions of these countries and the human rights organizations, although these countries have economic, political and cultural relations with the Muslim world. On the other hand, the Cabinet offered its condolences to Kuwait's government and people on the sad passing away of Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah (God bless his soul). Then Prince Sultan briefed the Cabinet on the contents of talks held by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz with Egypt's President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak, Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney. Prince Sultan also informed the Cabinet of the contents of messages, contacts and consultations held over the previous days with a number of brotherly and friendly countries and their envoys on the development of situations at the regional and international arenas and the Kingdom's stand towards them. Al-A'kkas said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions: The Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General or his deputy was authorized to discuss with the Turkish side a draft memorandum of Understanding between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Turkey in the field of military cooperation, sign the Memorandum of Unerstanding and forward the final version for further authentication. The session banned non-Saudis from running pilgrims' housing affairs, Umrah (minor Hajj) performers or visitors. According to the new law, Hajj missions, travel agencies and companies and the like were instructed not to deal with non-Saudis as regards the housing of pilgrims, Umrah performers or visitors. Violators of this regulation will receive a wide range of punishments, including fines. To further improve the performance of joint committees between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a number of countries of the world, the Cabinet passed several regulations aiming at regulating the work of those joint committees, including the participation of Saudi prominent businessmen in preparatory and follow-up meetings of the committees. The Cabinet also assigned the private sector to run the female students transportation from home to school and vice versa, provided that the annual fee of a student will not exceed SR1700. Drivers of female school buses should be Saudi nationals, the regulation stated. The Cabinet approved a draft strategy and a national task plan for forests in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia according to a decision submitted by the Shoura Council. The Cabinet approved a new rating for the social insurance for families in the Kingdom, increasing the maximum benefit ceiling of family social insurance appropriations from SR16200 to SR28000 a year. The Cabinet approved the transfer of Dr. Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah Ibn Ali Al Khudairi from Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs for Planning of Cities to the post of Undersecretary of the Governorate of Assir Region. The Cabinet also approved the appointment of Dr. Ibrahim Ibn Mohammed Ibn Ibrahim Albathi as Undersecretary for Construction and Projects at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Salman Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Mohammed Ibn Salih Ibn Mohammed Al-Garnas as Director General of the Riyadh-based Youth Welfare office for Riyadh Region. On the other Vice-Custodian of the two Holy Mosques Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz received the Commander General of United States Central Command General John Abi Zeid. During the audience, cordial talks were exchanged and issues of common interest were discussed. Meantime an official source has pointed out that the Kingdom's donation previously approved by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to support its efforts to combat bird flu amounted to $ 1 million. The source noted that this donation comes within the framework of the Kingdom's support for charitable and humanitarian activities that benefit all mankind. |
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