November 24, 2006

THE SAUDI CABINET WELCOMES THE RESOLUTION OF THE UNITED NATIONS' GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHICH CONDEMNS ISRAEL FOR ITS MASSACRES IN BEIT HANOUN. THE CABINET STRESSES THE UTMOST NECESSITY FOR PROVIDING SECURITY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LAND OF IRAQ. THE CABINET EXPRESSES ITS SATISFACTION OVER THE STRENGTH OF THE SAUDI NATIONAL ECONOMY. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh. At the outset of the session, the monarch briefed the cabinet on the contacts and meetings he held with some world leaders and their envoys on bilateral relations and regional and international issues. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques commended his meeting with President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen during his visit to the kingdom, which embodied the importance of relations between the two countries. 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 reviewed the situations in the region. On Iraq, the cabinet emphasized that the policy of the Kingdom emanates from the following principles: 1) The utmost necessity for providing security throughout the entire land of Iraq. 2) The urgent necessity for the State to activate its apparatus so that citizens can be assured that their affairs and interests are taken care of. 3) The fabric of social equilibrium, which prevailed over Iraq and led to brotherhood and kinship assimilation among religious groups, tribes and regions, should remain unharmed. 4) The mandate powers have to shoulder their international responsibilities towards protecting the borders of Iraq, and towards fending off foreign hegemony on parts of Iraq, be it political, intelligence, or security. 5) The countries which have the permanent membership of the Security Council, along with the countries neighbouring Iraq, have to carry out their duties in promoting Iraq's sovereignty, autonomy of its land, and national independence. Concerning the Palestinian issue, the Cabinet welcomed the resolution of the United Nations' General Assembly which condemns Israel for its massacre in Beit Hanon. It also welcomed the decisions of the International Council on Human Rights Policy (ICHRP) which denounced the crimes Israel commits against the human rights of Palestinians. The cabinet called as well on the Palestinian leaders to exert more efforts to enhance Palestinian concord and to form a Palestinian national unity government. Minister Madani pointed out that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques renewed the Kingdom's call for convening an international conference, attended by all parties, to put an end to Israel's aggressions, and to activate the peace process according to the Arab Peace Initiative and the International resolutions. On local affairs, the Cabinet expressed its satisfaction over the strength of the Saudi national economy as stated in the annual 42nd report of Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency which reviewed the most prominent local economic developments for fiscal year 1425/1426 H and for the current fiscal year 1426/1427 H. The Cabinet noted that the report highlights the continuation of the national economy for the third consecutive year to achieve distinguished and comprehensive outcomes in various fields. These achievements came as a result of the important steps taken by the government in the field of modernization of the systems, restructuring of the national economy, diversification of the productive base, support for participation of the private sector in the development, focusing on development of human elements, increase in local and foreign investment and intensification of the competitive ability of the local economy to achieve sustainable growth of the national economy and to create an attractive climate and environment for productive investment. These distinguished developments have taken place under a climate characterized by stability of local prices and rate of riyal exchange. The strength of available economic indicators points to the continuation of the strong growth of the national economy which covers the various regions of the kingdom in accordance with the directives of the custodian of the two holy mosques during his local visits. The Minister of Culture and Information said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions: Based on a decision taken by the Supreme Economic Council early this year regarding the reorganization of premiums for students of technological colleges and health colleges and institutes, the Cabinet ordered the implementation of articles (1) and (3) of the Cabinet's resolution no. 216 dated 8/9/1421 H to cover students of technological colleges of the technical education and vocational training department and students of health colleges and institutes of the ministry of health. According to the Cabinet's decision, a new account in the name of technical education and vocational training will be opened for spending according to the cabinet's new measure. Upon recommendations of the minister of transport, the Cabinet approved a state financial grant to cover part of the railway project planned to link the western parts of the kingdom along the red sea with the eastern parts along the Arab Gulf. The duration of the concession of the railway project will be 50 years to enable the investor take his investment and operational decisions according to a long-range strategy, the Cabinet said, adding that the lands owned by the railway establishment and not used in the railway project should belong to the state's properties department. According to the Cabinet, an independent organization will be set up for organizing and supervising the transport sector at the railway establishment. On the other hand the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz issued orders to promote and appoint 100 judges at the Ministry of Justice. The King also issued orders to promote 1245 officers of various military ranks.