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May 19, 2006 |
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THE CABINET AFFIRMS THE STATE'S KEENNESS ON SUPPORTING THE SECTOR OF HIGHER EDUCATION. THE CABINET APPROVES A DRAFT AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA AND THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC IN THE JUDICIARY FIELD. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz chaired the Cabinet's weekly session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh. At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the contents of contacts, consultations and talks held over the previous days with a number of leaders of countries and their envoys on bilateral relations and regional and international issues. King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz emphasized the Kingdom's stand on supporting the rights of the peoples in the region for a stable, safe and dignified life, and laid stress on the Kingdom's efforts aiming to sustain the world economic growth. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information Iyad bin Amin Madani said that the Cabinet appreciated the King's address on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of King Saud University in Riyadh. In his speech, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques affirmed the state's keenness on supporting the sector of higher education, and announced the establishment of two other universities in Tabuk and Baha regions, increasing thereby the number of Saudi universities to 17. The Cabinet emphasized the importance of mobilizing more capabilities to support the academic centers of applied and theoretical research in scientific and social fields at the Kingdom's universities. It also stressed the benefits of Saudi academic expertise and joint agreements with renowned research centers affiliated with universities all over the world. The Cabinet stressed the need for the private sector, as an expression of this its national and social role, to invest in higher education institutions to enhance the motivating environment provided by the state. The Minister of Culture and Information said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions: The Minister of Agriculture or his deputy was authorized to discuss with the Yemeni side a draft agreement on cooperation in the field of fisheries between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Yemen, sign it within the activities of the Saudi Yemeni Coordination Council and forward the agreement's final version for further authentication. The Cabinet approved a draft framework agreement on economic cooperation between the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the MERCOSOR group, which was signed in Brasilia during the Arab South American summit of 2/4/1426 H. According to the agreement, the two sides work for encouraging economic, commercial, investment and technical cooperation between each other, and exchange knowledge and expertise in those fields. The Cabinet approved a draft agreement on cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic in the judiciary field, which was signed in Damascus on 28/1/1427 H. According to the agreement, citizens of either country inside the territories of the other will have the right of litigation before justice establishments according to the same conditions and protection provided for its own citizens. Each of the two parties executes the final rules issued by judiciary authorities on civil, commercial and personal cases except where the ruling is issued against the other State which is asked to execute the ruling or against a State Official owing to actions incurred because of his official position. The Minister of Higher Education or his deputy is authorized to discuss with the Niger's side a draft Memorandum of Understanding on scientific and educational cooperation between the Ministry of Higher Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Undergraduate and Higher Education of the Republic of Niger, sign it and forward the agreement's final version for further authentication. The Cabinet approved the annual report on the administrative and financial performance of the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden) for the fiscal year, ending December 31, 2004. Based on recommendations of the Minister of Transport and on the Shoura Council resolution No. 86/67 dated 21/1/1427 H., the Cabinet approved a draft Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of maritime transportation in the Oriental Arab which was signed on 1/4/1426 H. According to the MOU, information on navigation and vessels working between the ports and anchors, and the capacities of the national fleets working in the same area will be exchanged by using electronic data exchange systems. The memo also calls for simplifying and facilitating ports and customs procedures pertinent to coastal transportation vessels or goods at the ports and anchors. It also urges for the setting up and supporting of education, training and information centers and establishments in the field of maritime transportation. The Cabinet approved the appointment of Dr. Talal bin Abdul-Ghani bin Mohammed Malki as Ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Faisal bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Othman as Director General of Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Eastern Region Governorate. |
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