August 11, 2006

THE SAUDI COUNCIL OF MINISTERS STRESSES ITS THE KINGDOM'S STAND BY THE TWO BROTHERLY PEOPLES OF LEBANON AND PALESTINE AND AFFIRMS THAT THE ISRAELI AGGRESSION AND ITS CONFRONTATION ARE ARAB CONCERNS THAT NECESSITATE A CLEAR, STRONG AND CERTAIN ARAB POSITION. THE CABINET APPROVES A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IN THE FIELDS OF DANGEROUS WASTE ADMINISTRATION BETWEEN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA AND YEMEN. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz chaired the Cabinet's weekly session at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah. At the outset of the session, the Monarch briefed the Cabinet on the contents of current contacts and consultations including, among others, his meeting with the Secretary General of the Arab League which dealt with the continual efforts being exerted by the Kingdom to halt Israel's aggression against Lebanon and Israeli practices in the occupied Palestinian territories, and the international stance on the situations in the region. 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 stressed the Kingdom's stand by the two brotherly peoples of Lebanon and Palestine in confronting an all-out war being launched by Israel on the two countries. The Cabinet also affirmed that the Israeli aggression and its confrontation are Arab concerns that necessitate a clear, strong and certain Arab position. In this regard, the Cabinet hoped that the outcomes of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Beirut will practically and effectively crystallize the needed Arab stand; support the unity of the Lebanese ranks, legitimacy and stance; support the unity of a Palestinian decision; and unite an Arab action in dealing with the crisis and its consequences at the international arena. The Cabinet stressed that the current international movement to contain the crisis is still insufficient to face the continual Israeli attacks and their aftermath of destruction and disasters. On domestic affairs, the Cabinet appreciated the King's approval of increasing the monthly allowance of students studying abroad by 15 percent and fixing all their allocations in the countries affected by fluctuations of Riyal rate in exchange of these countries' currencies. The approval comes at a time when the state opens the door to studying abroad in many fields at the level of university and graduate studies. The Cabinet considers this royal kind gesture a strong incentive for students abroad to work harder and learn better. The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding in the fields of dangerous waste administration between the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The Cabinet approved the economic decisions taken by the 26th session of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council which was held in the United Arab Emirates on 16-17/11/1426 H. The Cabinet approved the law of fertilizers and agricultural soil enhancers in the Gulf cooperation council's countries. The King directed to speed implementation of the projects of the ministry of health which have been financed by the surpluses of the budgets of the two fiscal years 1424/1425 h. and 1425/1426 h. The Cabinet approved two appointments at the 14th rank.